Definitions and Facts (Ch 5) Flashcards
Roles of pressure groups
Participation, representation and education
Sectional group
Aim to advance interests of members. Often restrictions on who can join eg only qualified doctors can join the BMA
Cause group
Promote ideas to benefit wider society. Very few restrictions for members and few direct benefits to them. Eg RSPB helps birds, who are not members
Insider groups
Regular contact with decision-makers, mainstream goals and little publicity
Outsider groups
No regular contact with government, engage in publicity stunts and campaign on controversial issues
Types of insider group
Core (strong bilateral relationship)
Specialist (consulted on narrow range of policy)
Peripheral (rare governmental consultation)
Types of outsider groups
Potential insiders (attempting to become insiders)
Outsiders by necessity (no realistic prospect of consultation)
Ideological (Don’t want links with government)
Why do pressure groups look to EU?
EU law takes precedence, UK can’t veto legislation anymore, more access points than Westminster, Eurogroups have more resources than national groups
How many people protest marched against 2003 Iraq War?
1 million
A pressure group’s petition to parliament?
Life (anti-abortion group) in 1989 had 2 million signatures
Pressure group working with political party?
Anti fox hunting groups and the Labour Party (1994-1997)
What did Plane Stupid protestors do?
Hung banners from roof of Palace of Westminster
Cash for questions affair?
October 1994
Ian Greer, on behalf of Mohamed Al-Fayed, bribed two Conservative MPs to ask parliamentary questions
Neil Hamilton MP was one of them
Examples of insider groups
British Medical Association, National Farmers Union and Howard League for Penal Reform
Examples of outsider groups
Plane Stupid, Fathers4Justice
