How campaigns affect policy making Flashcards
What is a pressure group
Organisations that try to influence government polices in the interests of a particular cause.
What is an Individual campaign
Many campaigns that are later taken up by newspapers politicians and pressure groups are started by a lone individual, who feels strongly enough about a particular policy to
take action themselves.
How were Newspapers involved in the Sarah’s Law campaign of change
- Made an article in July 2000 that named and shamed fifty people it claimed were podophiles’, it promised to continue listing names, this forced the government to act, Child Sex Offender Disclosure scheme introduced throughout England and Wales in 2011.
What happened to Pat Gibson
Michael Gibson, assaulted by David Clark in 1992 when he was 20
Michael died after being in a coma for 22 months, David could only be charged with GBH, he was jailed for 2 years and was released before Michael died
Due to the Year and a day rule, David escaped manslaughter charges as Michael died a year and a day after the attack
How were Newspapers involved in Pat Gibson’s campaign
Pat’s local newspaper the Northern Echo launched the ‘Justice for Michael’ campaign’.
They published a picture of Michael in a coma on the front cover and urged readers to sign a petition demanding for the year and a day rule to be scrapped.
Thousands of readers signed the petition, and the local MP supported the campaign in parliament.
- 1996 Law reform Act was passed, ended year and a day rule
What was the British Lung Foundation and ASH campaigns for
The BLF aims to prevent lung disease and raises awareness about the dangers that cause it and how to look after your lungs.
In 2011 the BLF petitioned for a change in the law for smoking in cars with children.
It gathered 50 000 signatures which were presented to 10 Downing street.
The BLF carried out research into the dangers of second-hand smoke and the lasting damage it can do.
This research showed 430 000 children were being exposed to second-hand smoke in family cars each week.
What Laws have Changed as a result of the British Lung Foundation and ASH campaigns
On 1 October 2015 the
government brought in a new law that made it an offence to smoke in a car in which children under 18 years of age were present.
