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UK Politics And Government > Democracy > Flashcards

Democracy Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 4 different types of pressure groups?

A
  • Sectional groups
  • Outsider groups
  • Promotional groups
  • Insider groups
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2
Q

Sectional group

A

Membership is often restricted to particular sections of society, aim to look after the interests of that particular group

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3
Q

Promotional/cause group

A

Membership tends to be open—seeking to gain mass of support. Tend to have altruistic policies i.e benefit wider society

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4
Q

Insider groups

A

Insider groups have a special relationship with government. Their aims are usually compatible with government

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5
Q

Outsider groups

A

Are not closely associated with the government, concentrate on mobilising public opinion to put pressure on government

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6
Q

What methods do pressure groups tend to use?

A
  • mass public campaigns e.g. anti-austerity
  • publicity stunts of various kinds
  • social media, e-petitions
  • use of celebrities
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7
Q

Direct action methods?

A
  • marches and demonstrations e.g. ‘Day of Rage’ Grenfell Tower protests
  • Trade unions may go on strike
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8
Q

Factors influencing the success of groups?

A
  • insider
  • social status
  • wealth
  • celebrity
  • public support
  • size
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9
Q

Strengths of pressure groups

A

✅pressure groups reflect the system of pluralist democracy, which gives citizens another voice in decision-making
✅counter-balance the tyranny of the majority e.g. Stonewall campaign for gay marriage. 2014 DC legalised it
✅they enable individuals to participate in the political process between elections

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10
Q

Weaknesses of pressure groups

A

❌they can be divisive and selfish. One powerful group can dominate an issue e.g. BMA went on strike in 2012
❌very good at stopping things which others feel are needed e.g HS2 environmental argument v economic argument
❌pressure groups reduce the power of Parliament, undermines its sovereignty by working closely with MPs

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11
Q

Ways in which political parties enhance democracy?

A
  • encourage people to participate in politics e.g. voting
  • provide voters with choices
  • uphold the authority of Parliament
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12
Q

Ways in which political parties do not enhance democracy?

A
  • parties may sometimes oversimplify issues or present information in a misleading way
  • finance needed for election campaigns meaning the rich interest groups become influential e.g. trade unions
  • fail to reflect the society they ‘represent’, women and ethnic minorities
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13
Q

Elections do promote democracy?

A

✅educate the public As political parties try to explain current issues and how they would deal with them
✅popular participation is a core feature of democracy and elections help enhance this (67% turnout)
✅political changeover via elections ensures that there is a peaceful change. Democracy requires that those who have lost an election accept the authority of those who have won

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14
Q

Elections do not promote democracy?

A

❌Elections can fail to educate the public, misinforms them of biased facts etc
❌elections form of indirect democracy (representative democracy), take decision-making away from the people. There is no guarantee that politicians will abide by their mandate e.g. Lib Dems said they weren’t going to raise tuition fees, Coalition government rose fees.
❌at general elections it is accepted that the winning party has a mandate to carry out its manifesto. However, elections do not indicate which aspects of a manifesto the voters approve.

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15
Q

How well are rights protected in the UK?

They are ✅) (They are not ❌

A

✅The HRA and other laws mean that rights are set out clearly and in detail e.g. judicial review there to protect rights if infringed and use HRA as a guide
✅This allows the judiciary to be active in defending rights e.g. Poundland case 2013 protecting freedom from forced labour
✅Pressure groups, such as Liberty, work to stop governments undermining rights

❌citizens’ rights have been restricted as governments seek to protect citizens from terrorism e.g. stop and search any suspected person without reason
❌The governments has also introduced ‘control orders’ to restrict freedom of movement e.g. powers given by Parliament in the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005
❌The media undermines rights protection by portraying Acts like the HRA as restricting rights

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16
Q

What are some of our rights and where can we find them?

A

Human Rights Act (1998) one of the most important ways that’s rights are protected
Freedom of Information Act (2000) created to create a more open system of government
The Equality act (2010) made it illegal to discriminate in 9 areas

17
Q

Pluralist Democracy

A

A pluralist democracy describes a political system where there is more than one centre of power.

18
Q

Bicameral Legislature definition

A

A particular body of
government that consists of
two legislative houses or
chambers

19
Q

What does a parliamentary

democracy include?

A 
-Parliament is sovereign and
has ultimate power
-Laws will only be enforced if
legitimised by UK parliament
-Govt is drawn from parliament
and is part of parliament
-Parliament ensures
geographical representation of
the UK
20
Q

What is the doctrine of

parliamentary sovereignty?

A

Principle in UK that parliament
(legislature) is the supreme law
making body therefore could
go against result of referendum

21
Q

What are some of the possible threats to civil liberties in the UK?

A
  • Surveillance
  • Stop and search
  • Freedom of expression
  • Anti-terrorism
22
Q

Name some Rights protection cases and a brief overview of what happened?

A
  • The Poundland Case (2013) Reilly won her claim that it was unlawful to force her to work for free at Poundland as a condition of her claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • The Belmarsh Ruling (2004) Law lords ruled against the govt indefinite detention of terrorist suspects in Belmarsh Prison
23
Q

What are Lobbyists?

A

Lobbyists are companies who get paid to gain access to government for their clients. Lobbying companies often employ ex-politicians who know how to access decision-makers

24
Q

What are think tanks?

A

Think tanks referred to privately funded, non-profit organisations that conduct research with a view to changing political policies 

25
Q

What are other collective organisations?

A

Corporations, lobbyists, think tanks 

26
Q

Pressure groups may:

A
  • Try to access key decision-makers from the prime minister, cabinet and civil servants to argue the case directly
  • Try to target and influence specific members of the House of Commons, Lords, EU so on for example, many UK policies regarding farming are made at an EU level. The National farmers union therefore lobbies Brussels, not Westminster
27
Q

Why parties SHOULD receive state funding?

A

✅ it stops wealth groups influencing parties
✅ parties can focus on representing the electorate, not fundraising
✅ smaller parties will get fair financial support

28
Q

Why parties SHOULDN’T receive state funding?

A

❌ politicians may be less interested in what pressure groups have to say
❌ taxpayers should not be funding political parties
❌ there would be disagreement over how funding will be allocated

29
Q

Evaluate the view that the actions of pressure groups have been more significant than government legislation in defending and promoting rights in the UK? [30]

Introduction: 3 types

A
  • Human rights, LGBTQ+ and workers
  • Pressure Groups raise awareness and promote rights
  • Legislation is significant because rights have been legally protected
30
Q

Evaluate the view that the actions of pressure groups have been more significant than government legislation in defending and promoting rights in the UK? [30]

Para 1: Point (Human Rights)

A
  • Pressure groups hugely important in protection of human rights E.g. liberty
  • facial recognition technology [2020] - Liberty won, deemed it to breach privacy rights, equality laws 
31
Q

Evaluate the view that the actions of pressure groups have been more significant than government legislation in defending and promoting rights in the UK? [30]

Para 1: Human Rights - CounterPoint (1998?)

A

Despite Liberty’s importance, their reference for rights is the 1998 human rights act

32
Q

Evaluate the view that the actions of pressure groups have been more significant than government legislation in defending and promoting rights in the UK? [30]

Para 1: Human Rights- Overall

A

Importance of government passing HRA, pressure groups hold the government to account and ensure legislation is seen

33
Q

Evaluate the view that the actions of pressure groups have been more significant than government legislation in defending and promoting rights in the UK? [30]

Para 2: LGBTQ+ rights - Point (promoting rights?)

A

Pressure groups have promoted and protected LGBTQ+ rights by raising awareness and lobbying government

E.g. Stonewell

34
Q

Evaluate the view that the actions of pressure groups have been more significant than government legislation in defending and promoting rights in the UK? [30]

Para 2: LGBTQ - CounterPoint (laws passed to protect these rights?)

A

In 2014 David Cameron legalise gay marriage

35
Q

Evaluate the view that the actions of pressure groups have been more significant than government legislation in defending and promoting rights in the UK? [30]

Para 2: LGBTQ: Overall (awareness is raised by pressure groups)

A
  • Government has legislative power, pressure groups raise the issues that initiate legislation
  •  pressure groups significant in promoting LGBTQ+ rights, the government has the legal means to protect
36
Q

Evaluate the view that the actions of pressure groups have been more significant than government legislation in defending and promoting rights in the UK? [30]

Para 3: Workers - Point (Defend rights)

A

Pressure groups often defend the rights of workers unsupported by government
E.g. 2012 National union of rail organised strikes

37
Q

Evaluate the view that the actions of pressure groups have been more significant than government legislation in defending and promoting rights in the UK? [30]

Para 3: Workers - CounterPoint (pressure groups aren’t seen to be as effective)

A

Parliament more effective E.g. National Minimum Wage Act 1998 and onwards

38
Q

Evaluate the view that the actions of pressure groups have been more significant than government legislation in defending and promoting rights in the UK? [30]

Para 3: Workers - Overall (Dependency on pressure groups?)

A

Government role is dependent on effective pressure group campaigning, for workers which could have supporting influence over potential legislation

39
Q

Evaluate the view that the actions of pressure groups have been more significant than government legislation in defending and promoting rights in the UK? [30]

Conclusion (Pressure groups are effective but have a distance from legislative power)

A
  • Distance from legislative power undermines their ability to protect rights
  • The role of raising awareness is often what encourages government action

UK Politics And Government (8 decks)

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