Democracy and Participation examples:

Question 1

Who has shown DA doesn’t succeed and can attract a negative response from the government?

Answer 1

-Insulate Britain and extinction rebellion had a negative response from the government.

Question 2

Give three examples of how DA can put people off if the media is against you?

Answer 2

• Occupy London failed its aim to reduce poverty reduction.
• Unsuccessful stop the war coalition.
• Positive adverts gain more sympathy than violent demonstrations.

Question 3

Who are fathers for justice and how did they force change?

Answer 3

A pressure group trying to raise the issue of rights of Fathers. Dressed up as superhero’s on top of buildings- led to a change in the law.

Question 4

Positive impacts of extinction rebellion and insulate UK?

Answer 4

Raised the profile of the environment, people are talking about it and the government has gone more green since 2010.

Question 5

How do trade unions force change?

Answer 5

When TU’s go on strike it makes government change, RMT threatening strikes during Olympics over pay- the government quickly gave in.

Question 6

Which march over war attracted support and highlighted discontent?

Answer 6

The stop the war coalition. Despite unsuccess they still showed to Blair their unhappiness.

Question 7

Which examples of direct action got people involved over social media?

Answer 7

• Stop the war coalition.
• Occupy London 2010.
• Trade union strikes.

Question 8

How did HS2 promote democracy?

Answer 8

-Residents showing upset over projected railway lone over their houses.

Question 9

Who were the Ghurkas and how did they promote democracy/ represented?

Answer 9

• Fought for us in the war.
• Small group of people given citizenship.
• Joanna Lumley went onto national TV.

Question 10

How do pressure groups encourage people to participate?

Answer 10

• Strikes.
• Letters to MP’s.
• Environmental concerns ect.

Question 11

Why do political parties encourage participation more than pressure groups?

Answer 11

• 70% of people vote in elections.
• 1M protested war in Iraq but out of population that isn’t that many.
• Small numbers actually go on strike.
• BUT… membership of PP’s down, PG’s up.

Question 12

How many members did trade unions have in 1979?

Answer 12

13.2M members

Question 13

How many members did trade unions have in 2016?

Answer 13

6.23M members.

Question 14

How many environmental groups had a collective membership of 4.5M members?

Answer 14

139.

Question 15

What fraction of adults are are part of an environmental pressure group?

Answer 15

1/10

Question 16

What social movement was large in 2020?

Answer 16

2020 BLM, engaging the younger generation.

Question 17

How does direct action challenge democracy?

Answer 17

Undermines elections, parties and parliaments which is a reduction of legitimacy.

Question 18

How many members does the interest pressure group the NEU have?

Answer 18

450,000

Question 19

Which large corporations have a say in democracy?

Answer 19

Shell and Tesco- there success depends on the economy and they both hold a big stake in society.

Question 20

Examples of lobbyists being problematic?

Answer 20

• 1998- Derek Draper boasting about 17 links in labour party.
• 2009 2 labour peers offering to make amendments in legislation for £120,000
• Lord Blencathara accepting 12k a month to lobby for Cayman islands.
• Heavy lobbying in 2020 from alcohol industry successfully freezing tax.

Question 21

What act made lobbying more transparent?

Answer 21

-Transparency of lobbying, non party campaigning and trade union administration act 2014.

Question 22

Transparency of lobbying, non party campaigning and trade union administration act 2014 criticism?

Answer 22

• 85% still goes unreported according to cabinet office.

- Excludes in house-lobbyists and those who lobby directly themselves.

Question 23

Who were the Gurkha justice campaign?

Answer 23

2009- Joanna Lumley involved on TV with MP, trying to get citizenship for Ghurkhas

Question 24

What were the anti-smoking groups?

Answer 24

During Tony Blair era- smoking ban in pubs.

Question 25

Who are some very big pressure groups?

Answer 25

National Trust.

RSPB

Question 26

What was the stop the war coalition?

Answer 26

1M protesting war in Iraq.

Question 27

Who are the BMA?

Answer 27

Medical pressure group.

Question 28

Why is the CBI (big group so successful)? (speaks up for businesses).

Answer 28

• Widely consulted by the media.

- High public profile.

Question 29

What did BJ announce at the CBI conference?

Answer 29

• shelving cut for corp tax from 19-17.

- Boris thought this would be an issue for public concern.

Question 30

Who are the largest pressure groups?

Answer 30

• NSPCC- ‘Flaw in the law campaign which made sending sexual messages to children illegal- led to serious crimes act 2015.
• Had 117.9 M- 90% directly from supporters.
• TUC- 500,000 protesters under spending cuts from the coalition.
• BMA (Most of them are doctors tho).

Question 31

Examples of small successful groups?

Answer 31

-Howard league- 19 staff, quoted by 500 media staff in one day.

Question 32

Who have very good leadership styles?

Answer 32

• CPS.
• Hansbury strategy.
• Facebook employing Nick Clegg (corp).

Question 33

What is the problem with the British medical society’s leadership style?

Answer 33

• Government change in JD contract.
• Six-five day strikes.
• Doctors rejected the compromise.

Question 34

Which group did not succeed when the government was not interested?

Answer 34

‘March for the alternative’ -DC was committed to spending cuts already.

Question 35

Which group did succeed because the government was interested?

Answer 35

• Taxpayers alliance.
• ‘March for the alternative’
• Aligned with DC’s views.
• Included reducing benefit cap.

Question 36

Which campaign in 2020 regarding free school meals had lots of public support and led to the government changing laws?

Answer 36

• Marcus Rashford- free school meals.
• Open letter to MP’s, TV appearances and 2M twitter followers.
• Forced a U-turn.

Question 37

Examples of failure pressure groups?

Answer 37

• Stop war coalition.

- BMA- lost battle over junior doctor contact.

Question 38

Examples about judicial review?

Answer 38

• judges unelected so can represent interests of the people.
• Court cannot strike down an act of parliament- so the elected government still have a say in rights.
• UK had best record of ECOHR convention compliance.

Question 39

Disadvantages of judicial review?

Answer 39

• Court have too much power, bad decisions over terrorism putting UK in danger.
• July 2020- independent panel reviewed- reform- needed a balance.
• Conservative manifesto 2019- update HRA.

Question 40

Examples of the strong culture of respect for civil liberties?

Answer 40

• Joint committee of houses scrutinising government decisions and HR’s.
• Question of whether pandemic complied with 2,5 and 8.
• Equality and HR commission- investigating into labours anti-Semitism claims.

Question 41

Examples that the respect is just lip service?

Answer 41

• Anti terrorism act 2001- indefinite detention incompatible.
• Investigatory powers act- data about communications- liberty campaigned against this.
• Coronavirus act- relation of disabled people.

Question 42

Examples of fighting for civil liberties?

Answer 42

• Howard league and prison reform trust.
• Liberty and judicial review.
• Devolved governments do not want to get rid of HR.
• HRA act used by individuals to get gov to change mind without court review.

Question 43

Examples of growing criticism of civil liberties?

Answer 43

• Criticisms over protecting rights of criminals, terror suspects and criminals.
• Human rights inflation- same level for right to a family to life- leading to bad decisions.
• Judges not appreciating HR act and tradition.