influences on parliament

Question 1

who influences parliament?

Answer 1

• public influence/ manifesto (polices)
• media
• pressure groups/activists (legal)
  -public opinion (Brexit) - overlap with media
  -Lobbyists

Question 2

political influence?

Answer 2

-before general election all parties publish a manifesto
- party with most MPs forms government ( have majority) so their political agenda can be pushed through.
-demonstrated by number of government bills passed each year ( 30-40)
- smaller parties can have an influence

Question 3

political influence - advantages?

Answer 3

-each political parties has its proposals for reform ready
- law making process is efficient if the party proposing the legislation has a majority.

Question 4

political influence- disadvantages?

Answer 4

-each new government may repeal the previous government’s laws, which is costly.
- a small majority may restrict the laws the government can pass.
- a coalition will mean compromise is needed.

Question 5

media?

Answer 5

-the channels through which information is transmitted to the public

Question 6

media influence- examples?

Answer 6

• Dunblane shooting- media and other pressure led to ban on all handguns under the Firearms Act 1997
• MPs expenses scandal- media pressure led to reform under the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009

Question 7

media - advantages?

Answer 7

• can raise public awareness of an issue
• this can generate public support
• media can support the work of pressure groups (snowdrop campaign)

Question 8

media- disadvantages?

Answer 8

• Creating a panic, causing ‘knee jerk’ legislation
• media may represent a small percentage of the population
  -the media manipulate the news and ‘create’ public opinion (fake news)

Question 9

pressure groups- sectional?

Answer 9

• Sectional Pressure groups - seek to represent common interests of a particular section of society
  -membership often restricted to that section of society
  -e.g. National Union of Journalists

Question 10

pressure groups- cause?

Answer 10

• these have open membership from public
• promote a cause
• e.g. Friends of the earth, which is concerned with protecting the environment.

Question 11

pressure groups - insider tactic?

Answer 11

• close links with government
• give advice and will be consulted prior to legislation which may affect that group.

Question 12

pressure groups- outsider tactic?

Answer 12

• often take action of which government often disapproves.
• often engage in civil disobedience or direct action in order to reinforce their point.

Question 13

The Snowdrop Campaign?

Answer 13

• Massacre of 16 children and their teacher
• Formation of pressure group to campaign for ban on handguns
  -705,000 signed petition
• use of media to interview
• spoke at Labour party conference
• 1997 manifesto promise
• ban on all handguns Firearms Act 1997

Question 14

pressure groups- advantages?

Answer 14

• Can raise public awareness of wide range of public issues and keep parliament/MPs in touch.
• have expertise on there issue
• insider groups have their ear of decision makers.

Question 15

pressure groups- disadvantages ?

Answer 15

• undemocratic as may not represent majority view
• two groups may disagree
• Outsider groups can use undesirable/illegal tactics

Question 16

Law commission?

Answer 16

• Murder, Manslaughter and Infanticide 2006 - This implemented the changes to the partial defence to murder.

Question 17

Doctrine of Parliamentary Supremacy?

Answer 17

• parliament can legislate on any subject matter
• parliament cannot be bound by any previous parliament, nor can parliament pass any Act that will bind a later parliament.
• No other body has the right to override or set aside an Act of Parliament.