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P-extra Politics UNIT 1 Pressure Groups > Methods employed by pressure groups > Flashcards

Methods employed by pressure groups Flashcards

1
Q

In Britain what are the 3 main access points?

A
  • The Executive (ministers and civil servants)
  • The Legislature (MPs individually and as members of their party)
  • Public opinion and the media
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2
Q

Where are key decisions made in Britain?

A

Whitehall

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3
Q

What example of a promotional group subverts tradition of infrequent contact with Westminster and is an insider group?

A

the RSPB

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4
Q

What access point do Protective/Interest groups target?

A

the Executive branch

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5
Q

Who do many lobbyists have contacts with?

A

senior officials in various departments

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6
Q

What do higher civil servants make decisions involving?

A

on many routine, technical and less important decisions

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7
Q

How do pressure groups assist civil servants and ministers?

A

they can get technical information and advice , could help assist in carrying out policy

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8
Q

What do pressure groups gain from contact with civil servants and ministers ?

A

learn the departments current thinking and hope to influence its decisions having bills drawn up in line with their recommendations

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9
Q

What is a lobby?

A

A lobby is a group of people who represent a particular interest or cause, such as the environment lobby. The lobby normally refers to all those groups that seek to influence public policy

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10
Q

What is lobbying?

A

this is the practise of meeting with elected representatives to persuade them of the merits of the case you wish to advance

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11
Q

What are lobbyists?

A

Lobbyists are employees of associations who try to influence policy decisions, especially in the Executive and legislative branches of government

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12
Q

What is a statutory consultation?

A

This is a particular measure of laying down the interests that ministers are obliged to consult

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13
Q

Why would ministers see the consultation with a particular pressure group as precedent for further consultation?

A

as the pressure group they consult will most likely offer high quality and specialist advice, representative leadership and organisation

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14
Q

Where do pressure group spokespersons and government contact take place?

A

They serve on government established committees

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15
Q

How do pressure group spokespersons benefit from serving on government established committees?

A

as they are involved in widespread formal and informal consultation in various ways

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16
Q

Who are two examples of pressure groups that are in frequent communication?

A

the NFU and Defra

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17
Q

How does the pressure group NFU operate with the government?

A

They operate in a quiet, behind the scenes way that avoids too much publicity

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18
Q

What have pressure groups been seen to take an increasing interest in lobbying?

A

the European Parliament and its MEP’s

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19
Q

What has meant that MPs are likely to be less responsive to group persuasion?

A

The fact that there is a strong system of party discipline

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20
Q

What did Michael Rush’s study in 1990 find?

A

that 75% of groups claimed to be in regular or frequent contact with MPs and more than half maintained contact with the HOL

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21
Q

Which study in what year found that 75% of groups claim to be in regular contact or frequent contact with MPs and more than half maintained contact with HOL?

A

Michael Rush’s study 1990

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22
Q

Why since the 1980’s has there been a trend towards more lobbying of the legislature?

A

This has been partly because of the growth of select committees and also under thatcher, major and blair there have been reservations about pressure group influence

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23
Q

Why might a pressure group lobby MP’s when a party has received a large majority in the HOC

A

It is more productive for groups to work on back benchers in hope of persuading them to oppose what ministers are trying to steamroller through the house

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24
Q

Why do some MPs find themselves contacted by campaigners early in the session of parliament?

A

If the MP drew a high position in the annual ballot early , campaigners often contact them in hope to persuade them to introduce a measure relating to their cause

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25
What is an example of a pressure group who may contact MPs who have drew high positions in the annual ballot?
If they found someone interested in introducing a bill to restrict abortions then pro life campaigners would probably have ready draft proposals that could easily be tired into legislation
26
When lobbying parliament, what 3 things do groups hope to do?
- amend or sponsor legislation - influence the climate discussion - gain parliamentary backing for causes first raised outside the chamber
27
What function of the Lords has meant that since the 1980's lobbyists have often focused on them more than the HOC?
Their ability to scrutinise legislations and sometimes create considerable difficulties for recent governments over controversial bills
28
What is an example of when the HOL created difficulties in passing a controversial bill?
the bills involving civil liberties such as the legislation on the freedom of information, detention of alleged terrorists, asylum seekers and ID cards
29
Who have campaigners been willing to work with in order to thwart government proposals?
cross-bench and opposition peers
30
When are amendments by the HOL likely to be accepted?
When they are broadly in line with government thinking and more concerned with detail than fundamental principles
31
Which pressure group was involved in the abolition of fox hunting?
the Countryside Alliance
32
When campaigning against the abolition of fox hunting, who did the Countryside Alliance make extensive use of contacts in and why?
the HOL because a large amount of peers shared its broad approach
33
What are background campaigners?
They are designed to present a favourable image for some cause or interest over a period of time
34
What is a fire brigade campaign?
this is a dramatic type of group campaign designed to rally support quickly
35
What is direct action?
This is any action beyond the usual constitutional and legal framework, such as obstructing access to a building or the building of a motorway. Terrorism is an extreme form. Essentially, it is an attempt to coerce those in authority into doing something they would not otherwise do
36
Who are Fathers4Justice?
this is a direct actions fathers rights group frowned to campaign on behalf of fathers who claim to have suffered injustice in the quagmire of divorce proceedings and feel that the legal system is stacked against them
37
Who are Plane Stupid?
This is a direct action climate group that has emerged from the new wave of radical green activism. Actions carried out by the group include the grounding of planes through the establishment of a climate clamp on an airport taxiway and the occupation of offices belonging to airport operators
38
Who are Freedom and Enterprise?
this is an organisation that crusades against nationalisation and employs background campaigns to create a favourable impression for a cause over a period of time
39
What approach did the Snow Drop Campaign 1996-1997 use?
the fire brigade campaign
40
What has television provided pressure groups with?
opportunities for publicity
41
From what decade have environment groups grown rapidly?
1990's
42
Who are the The Orgreave Truth and Justice pressure group?
A pressure group who campaigned for an inquiry into the Battle of Orgreave as they wish to show that the miners were not at fault on this day.
43
Which 2 pressure groups are examples of success when using the outlet of the courts?
the Equal Opportunities Commission and Greenpeace
44
Why did the Countryside Alliance claim when using the judicial route in an attempt to delay the implementation of the ban of fox hunting?
that it was a denial of members' rights under the European Convention
45
What has the well resourced RSPCA become familiar with?
the multi level governance
46
What has the multi level governance meant for the RSPCA?
that its main UK operations are complemented by the Scottish SPCA and the European department
47
What is multi level governance?
This relates to the multiple layering of government and describes the way in which the British political system operates today. There are various tiers of government with the EU at the top, then the UK government, devolved bodies and local administration, plus many unelected bodies exercise considerable power
48
What have local councils encouraged participation via?
via consultative exercises such as creating forums and joint committees or holding public meetings
49
What are Nimby groups?
they are local action groups whose members wish to protect their own lifestyle. Often, they campaign against developments that will impact adversely on the view from and value of their own house or land, but are less concerned about developments affecting other people and areas
50
What tactics do Nimby groups usually use?
They usually use media orientated tactics in their campaiginig block
51
What is a common example of a Nimby problem?
moves to build a housing estate on green belt land or to fell an ancient tree in the name of progress
52
Why has there been an increase of pressure group activity since 1999 in Scotland?
Since the devolution powers granted which created a Scottish parliament
53
What is the view of those pressure groups who come into contact with the Edinburgh machinery?
positive
54
What issues may be involved in lobbying at international level?(2)
trade and overseas development
55
What are to examples of UN related bodies?
World Bank | G8
56
Who are G8?
G8 is a Group of 8 and comprises of eight advanced countries whose heads of state meet in an annual summit to discuss trade and development issues
57
What year did Britain Join the European Community?
1973
58
Where are many decisions affecting key areas of our national life now made?
in Brussels
59
Where do many of our laws derive from?
regulations and directives of the European Commission
60
What are directives?
These are EU laws that specify a goal of policy but leave member governments to decide on how they implement the details
61
What is the European Commission?
This is a key institution of the EU which among other things, suggests policy initiatives to the Council of Ministers. It has responsibility for managing policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy and acts as the guardian of the treaties and ensures that member states implement EU legislation
62
What statute paved the way for the single market?
the Single European Act 1996
63
What are the 2 avenues open to groups that wish to engage with European machinery?
- Placing pressure on national government - Operating through Eurogroups - Direct lobbying
64
What its he Council of Ministers?
This is the highest legislative body within the EU
65
How can pressure groups place pressure on national government?
They can enter into discussions with minsters and senior civil servants in the relevant Whitehall ministry.
66
What is the TUC a member of?
the ETUC
67
What is the ETUC which the TUC is apart of?
a Eurogroup
68
How many national organisations from how many countries does the Eurogroup ETUC represent?
81 national organisations from 36 countries
69
Where have a few organisations established offices as a means of closely monitoring European legislation?
Brussels

P-extra Politics UNIT 1 Pressure Groups (10 decks)

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