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A Level Politics > Paper 1: Pressure Groups > Flashcards

Paper 1: Pressure Groups Flashcards

1
Q

What is a pressure group?

A

Association can be formal or informal whose function is to promote a cause by influencing govt. or the public
Do not seek political power

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2
Q

What is a sectional pressure group?

A

Represents a specific section of society, also known as an interest group, has different causes
Tend to have closed membership

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3
Q

What is a promotional pressure group?

A

Seeks to promote cause rather than interests of own members, don’t have specific group or members but rather have specific issues
Also know as cause group or issue group

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4
Q

What is a dual-function pressure group?

A

Can be both sectional and promote certain issue

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5
Q

What is an insider pressure group?

A

They often operate inside the political system through contact with ministers, MPs etc.
Regularly meet with govt. and MPs use it as a way to scrutinise proposed legislation
Have succeeded in being part of the decision making process

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6
Q

What is an outsider pressure group?

A

Have no special links with govt. but seek to influence decision making by mobilising public support
Can commit acts of civil disobedience because not an insider group

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7
Q

Examples of sectional groups

A

Taxpayer’s Alliance
National Farmer’s Union
NUT

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8
Q

Example of promotional groups

A

Occupy movement

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9
Q

Examples of dual-function groups

A

Countryside Alliance as it represents the people of the countryside but campaigns for a better quality of life in the countryside

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10
Q

Examples of insider groups

A

British Medical Association

Confederation of British Industry

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11
Q

Examples of outsider groups

A

Greenpeace

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12
Q

What are some methods of lobbying and which types of pressure groups do so?

A

Sending letters, making presentations, organising rallies, meeting with MPs
Not just insider groups that lobby, outsider groups do too

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13
Q

Pressure groups and MPs

A

Some groups pay retaining fees to MPs so they ill raise concerns on HofC, MP must declare if they are speaking on behalf of a pressure group and if they’ve received any payment

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14
Q

What is the UK Public Affairs Council?

A

Set up in 2010 to try to regulate the access professional lobbyists have to the govt., designed to increases transparency of the system

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15
Q

Example where MP is committed to work of pressure groups

A

2008 Fertilisation and Embryology Bill proposed reducing abortion from 24 to 20 weeks and was supported by Tory MP Nadine Dorries and group Live and Kicking

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16
Q

What is an Access Point?

A

Different channels through which PG can assert their influence in the UK
Access points include: Westminster, devolved assemblies, EU, social media platforms

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17
Q

Functions of pressure groups: G

A

Governing process- key part in policy + decision making

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18
Q

Functions of pressure groups: R

A

Representative- represents interests or sections of the public

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19
Q

Functions of pressure groups: E

A

Educational- educate and inform the public on political issues

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20
Q

Functions of pressure groups: A

A

Amendments- scrutinise and amend legislation to improve it

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21
Q

Functions of pressure groups: T

A

Tension release- outlet for people to express their feelings

22
Q

Functions of pressure groups: P

A

Political participation- less intensive than political parties

23
Q

Reasons for pressure group success: Opposition

A

Or lack of as if little opposition then more ppl will support the cause
e.g black lives matter because if you don’t support this you’d be looked down upon

24
Q

Reasons for pressure group success: Aims

A

If has strong and realistic aims then support more likely which means success
e.g BMA

25
Reasons for pressure group success: Size
More members = more popular | e.g Greenpeace which has 2.9 million members worldwide
26
Reasons for pressure group success: Finance
Well financed = resources for advertising/campaigning which is crucial for success
27
Reasons for pressure group success: Celebrities
Have ability to influence + promote through social media which increases success
28
Reasons for pressure group success: Insider status
Means there's a greater chance of what you want happening
29
Reasons for pressure group success: Organisation
More likely to be successful if organised as gonna get stuff done
30
Why do some pressure groups fail?
Cheque book membership- peoples join for material benefits 'Slacktivism' - only superficial engagement e.g online Small membership- makes it difficult to organise public demonstrations Outsider status- much more difficult to gain access to people in power Unsympathetic govt.
31
What is a New Social Movement (NSM)?
Group that emerges quickly in response to a particular issue Use mass demonstrations and media campaigns Are temporary and informal
32
Examples of NSM
9/11 truth movement Je Suis Charlie Love Wins Black Lives Matter
33
Alternative NSM
Provides alternatives to social norms e.g home schooling
34
Redemptive NSM
Focusses on 'redeeming others' new form of Christianity where they embrace different forms of religious behaviour
35
Reformist NSM
Wants to change society e.g American civil rights movement, 2nd wave feminism etc.
36
Revolutionary NSM
E.g communism or fascism, want to overthrow an existing political order and replace with new order
37
Ways which pressure groups enhance democracy:
Help to disperse power and influence more easily They educate public about political issues and get people involved in politics Can promote and protect rights of minorities Can help to call govt. to account
38
Ways which pressure groups threaten democracy:
Some PGs are elitist and concentrate power in few hands Influential PGs may distort info in their own interest Groups that are wealthy may have disproportionate amount of influence
39
What is a think tank?
Organisation who researches into certain aspects of public policy, either financed by govt. or private sources and are used by decision makers to inform deliberation May be neutral or not, may be single-issue and are self-funded
40
Examples of neutral think tanks
ResPublica- general policy issues Chatham House- International affairs Demos- current political issues
41
Example of 'left-wing' think tanks
Fabian Society- issues concerning social justice
42
Example of 'right-wing' think tanks
Adam Smith Institute- promoting free-market solutions to economic issues
43
Examples of 'liberal' think tanks
Liberty- concerns protection of human rights and liberties | Reform- concerns policies on welfare, public services and economic management
44
What is Greenpeace?
Non-governmental organisation that operates on international scale, founded in Canada in 1971 and now has 2.9 million members worldwide
45
What is Greenpeace's aim?
``` 'to ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture life in all its diversity' making it a causal group Specific campaigns inc: Climate change forests oceans agriculture toxic pollution nuclear ```
46
What methods do Greenpeace use?
Initially, relied on direct action to raise awareness but now increasingly uses insider methods to achieve its goals
47
Greenpeace success
2011 campaign to stop tuna fishing nets that can catch and kill other fish at the same time This resulted all UK supermarkets saying they would stop buying tuna caught using unsustainable methods Has since become a global movement
48
Greenpeace failures
2011 failure to prevent Cairn Energy from exploring gas reserved in Greenland this was down to: methods that alienated population and turned them to Cairn Energy Financial and political considerations of Greenland population which were more important to local population than environment Lack of support from UN fro Greenpeace to do anything more that protest, despite insider status
49
Similarities and differences between think tanks and pressure groups
Both attempt to persuade govt. by adopting their policy goals But think tanks, unlike many pressure groups, their methods rely on working with the govt. of the day or aligning themselves with a party instead of a populist campaign
50
What's lobbying?
Process of meeting with key political figures and persuading them to support your aims Professional lobbying firm who employ people who have access to key political figures Doesn't guarantee desired outcome but gives group adv. In US lobbying is a $3.5 billion industry
51
What are corporations?
Work close with govt. to develop practical legislation Look to exert pressure on those in charge to gain advantage, while this may be through lobbying, corporations also exert influence
52
What is the British Medical association (BMA)?
Formed in 1832 and was the idea of a forum where doctors could share medical knowledge with each other and examine it

A Level Politics (12 decks)

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