Citizens Influence Essay

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

Argued most effective way to influence government is by responding to consultations

Argued signing petitions & joining pressure groups also effective

This response will show why signing petitions is most influential method available

Question 2

Consultations - Point

Answer 2

One effective way citizens can influence government is by responding to consultations

Question 3

Consultations - Explain

Answer 3

Gov often seeks views of public on changes it proposes

Response it receives can influence choices government makes especially if response indicates an issue is controversial

Question 4

Consultations - Example

Answer 4

Scottish gov consulted raising retirement age of Scottish judges

75% said should be raised to 75 & gov announced they would raise age in 2021

Question 5

Consultations - Rebuttal Point

Answer 5

Argued citizens have no influence over decision making

Question 6

Consultations - Rebuttal Explain

Answer 6

Just because a gov issues a consultation doesn’t mean they have to act on responses

Able to delay responses to it

Question 7

Consultations - Rebuttal Example

Answer 7

Scottish gov consulted about introducing rules for non-surgical cosmetic surgery in 2020, took gov 2 years to respond & there’s still been no further action

Question 8

Consultations - Conclusion

Answer 8

Help gov see public opinions on certain issues but less effective as they’re often ignored

Question 9

Petitions - Point

Answer 9

Another effective way is by signing petitions

Question 10

Petitions - Explain

Answer 10

Often started by individuals or groups who demand action

More signatures makes it more influential as the government doesn’t want to upset future supporters

Question 11

Petitions - Example

Answer 11

Following Marcus Rashford’s petition to tackle hunger in school holidays got over 1 million signatures, UK gov introduced more food support for poor kids in England

Question 12

Petitions - Rebuttal Point

Answer 12

Government can ignore them

Question 13

Petitions - Rebuttal Explain

Answer 13

Gov may not think those signing will be future supporters

Question 14

Petitions - Rebuttal Example

Answer 14

Petitions to cancel Brexit & ban Donald Trump from UK gained 7 million votes between them yet were ignored by Cons

Question 15

Petitions - Rebuttal Analysis

Answer 15

Still won 2019 election

Question 16

Petitions - Conclusion

Answer 16

Effective to certain extent as they gain a lot of media attention yet can be ignored with little backlash on gov

Question 17

Pressure Groups - Point

Answer 17

Citizens can influence by joining a pressure group

Question 18

Pressure Groups - Explain

Answer 18

Group of people who come together with aim of achieving change

Use various methods to put pressure on gov to influence policies depending if they’re insider or outsider groups

Question 19

Pressure Groups - Example

Answer 19

Pressure group Surfers Against Sewage persuaded Scottish gov to make Scotland first country to introduce bottle deposit scheme starting in June 2023

Question 20

Pressure Groups - Rebuttal Point

Answer 20

Not all groups have success

Question 21

Pressure Groups - Rebuttal Explain

Answer 21

Because of the change they want & how sympathetic the government may be

If government is against them it’s difficult to get them to change their minds

Question 22

Pressure Groups - Rebuttal Example

Answer 22

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament been protesting almost 40 years but UK gov been committed to having nuclear weapons

Question 23

Pressure Groups - Conclusion

Answer 23

Physical thing that may cause disruption unless dealt with yet governments may not bother unless they care about the issue

Question 24

Overall Conclusion

Answer 24

Consultations & pressure groups both effective but petitions most effective as they gain a lot of media attention & if the government ignores it they may lose potential voters