Democracy and Participation: Lobbyists, Pressure Groups, Think Tanks

Question 1

What is pluralist democracy?

Answer 1

Political influence is dispersed among a wide variety of elected and non-elected bodies.

Question 2

What is a pressure group?

Answer 2

A membership-based association whose aim is to influence policy making without seeking power.

Question 3

What are some functions of pressure groups?

Answer 3

-To represent and promote the interests of certain sections of the community
-To protect the interests of minority groups
-To promote certain causes that haven’t been taken up by parties
-To inform and educate the public on political issues

Question 4

What is a sectional pressure group?

Answer 4

A pressure group that represents interests of a particular group in society. They lobby government on behalf of these defined social groups.

Question 5

What is a proportional pressure group?

Answer 5

They promote a particular issue and members can be anyone across society.

Question 6

What is a social movement?

Answer 6

Large group of individuals/organisations that focus on social/political issues.

Question 7

What is an insider pressure group?

Answer 7

Have a close and productive relationship with the gov.
Unlikely to use direct action or break law as this will damage their reputation.

Question 8

What is an outsider pressure group?

Answer 8

Little or no gov contact and are not consulted on policy change.

Question 9

How can pressure groups meet their aims?

Answer 9

• Illegal methods to raise awareness
• Make political grants to parties.
• Media campaigns
• Access points and lobbying

Question 10

What are access points?

Answer 10

Where pressure groups go to exert influence (Devolved Assemblies)

Question 11

What is lobbying?

Answer 11

Attempt of individuals to influence gov. Could be through large gatherings in Parliament or council offices. Could also mean getting professional organisations to run campaigns for them.

Question 12

What is hyper pluralism?

Answer 12

Phenomenon describing rapid growth of interest and campaign groups.

Question 13

What factors affect the success and failures of pressure groups? (6)

Answer 13

-Size of membership
-Finance
-Public mood
-The strategic position of a particular sectional group
-The attitude of the government
-Organisation

Question 14

What’s an example where public mood impacted the government’s decision?

Answer 14

38 degrees group gained half a million signatures on a petition opposing the proposal to privatise England’s forests, so the gov abandoned the proposal in 2011.

Question 15

What is a corporation?

Answer 15

Large companies that seek to lobby the gov to encourage them to legislate or not in certain areas.

Question 16

What is a thinktank?

Answer 16

A body of experts brought together to investigate and offer solutions to economic and social issues.

Question 17

What is a lobbyist?

Answer 17

Someone who is paid by clients to seek to influence the government/parliament on their behalf.

Question 18

Why is lobbying criticised?

Answer 18

Can only be accessed by wealthy
Manipulation is hidden
No regulation until 2014

Question 19

What was the first form of lobbying regulation?

Answer 19

2014 transparency act which created a statutory register of lobbyists.

Question 20

What were the faults of the 2014 lobbying administration act?

Answer 20

It was only 20% if lobbyists registered
In house lobbyists aren’t considered
Still secretive

Question 21

What are two key features of think tanks?

Answer 21

Identify with a particular position
Focus is mainly on influencing policy formulation than campaigning

Question 22

What are some examples of think tanks and their alignment with parties?

Answer 22

Fabian society - labour
Centre forum- LibDem
Greenhouse- Green Party
The Centre for Policy Studies- Conservative

Question 23

What is the revolving door?

Answer 23

Senior politicians and officials take well paid jobs in private sector after they leave gov sector.

Question 24

What is The Centre for Policy Studies?

Answer 24

It’s a think tank which is right of the centre. It understands research to promote policies which reduce the role of the state/public sector. It promotes neoliberalism.

Question 25

What is the Fabian Society?

Answer 25

Aims to promote the path to socialism. Affiliated with labour.

Question 26

What think tank has David Attenborough as a patron?

Answer 26

‘Population matters’- think tank who talks about how population growth impacts quality of life across the planet.

Question 27

What is the Green Alliance think tank?

Answer 27

They ensure uk political leaders deliver ambitious solutions to global environmental issues.
Activities include researched advocacy and convening high profile events with senior politicians

Question 28

What’s an example of a corporation?

Answer 28

Channel 4 TV
Aim to ‘champion unheard voices, take risks and stand up for diversity.

Question 29

What is the pressure group ‘act for act’?

Answer 29

Established to raise awareness about the importance of the Human Rights Act 1998

Question 30

What methods do the Act for Act pressure group use?

Answer 30

They are funded by donations and create petitions addressing the justice Secretary and make study videos.

Question 31

What does the Act for the Act pressure group believe people want to scrap the HRA?

Answer 31

As it’s for ‘terrorists, illegal immigrants, and criminals’

Question 32

What COVID act arguably restricted freedom?

Answer 32

Coronavirus Act 2020

Question 33

What are examples of individual rights?

Answer 33

Freedom of expression
Right to privacy
Right to strike and protest

Question 34

What are some examples of Collective rights?

Answer 34

Right of religious groups to not have their beliefs questioned
Right for community to be protected

Question 35

Why may citizens rights be compromised?

Answer 35

National security
Terrorism

Question 36

What was the Anti terrorism crime and security act 2001?

Answer 36

Gave gov legal power to imprison foreign terrorists indefinitely without trial.

Question 37

What was the homosexuality Asylum act 2010?

Answer 37

Asylum could be sought in UK if they are from a country which prosecuted homosexuals.

Question 38

What has Liberty done?

Answer 38

Challenged unjust laws like the Investigatory powers act (snoopers charter) which gave the police and security services to spy with or without suspect of wrong doing
Didn’t want Brexit to jeopardise civil liberties enshrined in UK law.

Question 39

What’s an example of a sectional/interest group?

Answer 39

Trades Union Congress (TUC) – the main representative of trade unions in Britain, which represent about 6.5 million workers.

Want all organisations to publish an Ethnicity and gender pay gap 2021

Question 40

what’s an example of a promotional pressure group?

Answer 40

WWF
Address the threat of climate change.
Protect nature so we can all enjoy its benefits.
Help eradicate the illegal trade in wildlife.

Question 41

What’s an example of an insider pressure group?

Answer 41

BMA: “We issue briefings to MPs and peers, influence consultations and inquiries, and seek members’ views to influence legislation.”

Question 42

What’s an example of an outsider pressure group?

Answer 42

Insulate Britain
Each year in the UK, hundreds of thousands of families are forced to choose between heating or eating, cold children or hungry children, and many 1000s die because they are too cold.

Sir David King (the former Chief Scientist) has stated in 2021 that “what we do in the next 3 to 4 years will impact the future of humanity”.​

Question 43

What think tank did Liz Truss have close ties to?

Answer 43

The Institute of Economic Affairs

Question 44

What is the significance of the think tank Institute for Economic Affairs?

Answer 44

• Boasted of securing access to 75 cross party Parliament members in March 2022
• Truss founded its parliamentary wing the Free Enterprise Group in 2011.
• Truss adopted several of its policies including slashing tax for wealthy and corporations.