Methods employed by pressure groups Flashcards
In Britain what are the 3 main access points?
- The Executive (ministers and civil servants)
- The Legislature (MPs individually and as members of their party)
- Public opinion and the media
Where are key decisions made in Britain?
Whitehall
What example of a promotional group subverts tradition of infrequent contact with Westminster and is an insider group?
the RSPB
What access point do Protective/Interest groups target?
the Executive branch
Who do many lobbyists have contacts with?
senior officials in various departments
What do higher civil servants make decisions involving?
on many routine, technical and less important decisions
How do pressure groups assist civil servants and ministers?
they can get technical information and advice , could help assist in carrying out policy
What do pressure groups gain from contact with civil servants and ministers ?
learn the departments current thinking and hope to influence its decisions having bills drawn up in line with their recommendations
What is a lobby?
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
What is lobbying?
this is the practise of meeting with elected representatives to persuade them of the merits of the case you wish to advance
What are lobbyists?
Lobbyists are employees of associations who try to influence policy decisions, especially in the Executive and legislative branches of government
What is a statutory consultation?
This is a particular measure of laying down the interests that ministers are obliged to consult
Why would ministers see the consultation with a particular pressure group as precedent for further consultation?
as the pressure group they consult will most likely offer high quality and specialist advice, representative leadership and organisation
Where do pressure group spokespersons and government contact take place?
They serve on government established committees
How do pressure group spokespersons benefit from serving on government established committees?
as they are involved in widespread formal and informal consultation in various ways
Who are two examples of pressure groups that are in frequent communication?
the NFU and Defra
How does the pressure group NFU operate with the government?
They operate in a quiet, behind the scenes way that avoids too much publicity
What have pressure groups been seen to take an increasing interest in lobbying?
the European Parliament and its MEP’s
What has meant that MPs are likely to be less responsive to group persuasion?
The fact that there is a strong system of party discipline
What did Michael Rush’s study in 1990 find?
that 75% of groups claimed to be in regular or frequent contact with MPs and more than half maintained contact with the HOL
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?
Michael Rush’s study 1990
Why since the 1980’s has there been a trend towards more lobbying of the legislature?
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
Why might a pressure group lobby MP’s when a party has received a large majority in the HOC
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
Why do some MPs find themselves contacted by campaigners early in the session of parliament?
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
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
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
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