Influences (Law making

Question 1

What are the four key influences

Answer 1

1. The media
2. Pressure groups
3. Lobbyists
4. The government.

Question 2

Media.

Examples of two acts:

Answer 2

Sexual Offences Act 2004

Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Question 3

Media. 4 advantages.

Answer 3

can raise issues of public concern with decision makers in government and parliament
 can support pressure group campaigns
 can raise and support public awareness of an issue
 can generate public support.

Question 4

Media- 4 disadvantages.

Answer 4

may represent only a small percentage of the population
 may not be able to effectively influence government or Parliament
 ownership of the media source may have possible bias
 social media may be inappropriately reactive to an event.

Question 5

Pressure group disadvantages

Answer 5

undemocratic as leaders unlikely to be elected by membership
 they are not likely to be objective and are likely to provide only one side of an argument
 outsider groups can use undesirable/illegal tactics to get publicity and to promote their
view
 can represent small number of members and have limited funds available to
advertise/influence
 outsider groups unlikely to be consulted or influence decision makers
 unlikely to be successful if no media support for their issue.

Question 6

Pressure group advantages

Answer 6

can raise public awareness of issue and keep Parliament/MPs in touch with issues of
public concern
 many are non-political but can influence all political parties
 they will have expertise on their issue
 for some groups, eg National Trust or TUC, the size of their membership means they
can be representative of the general public and be more influential as they will have
large budgets and be able to afford media campaigns
 some groups can provide international experience and contacts
 insider groups have the ear of decision makers and can be consulted on proposed
changes
 likely to be successful if they have media support.