Pressure Groups Flashcards
Definition of pressure group
An organisation which lobbies the goervemnt to influence policy and decision making. The NSPCC aims to encore the government to make laws which protects children.
How a pressure group and political party are different.
Pressure groups differ from political parties because they seek to only influence those in power. Political parties seek to win power for themselves.
Many pressure groups are part of social movements- what is a social movement
A wider campaign for the change or improvement of an attitude of elemnt of society. The LGBTQ+ movement is an example.
Insider pressure groups
Those that are consulted by policy makers and advisors on a certain topic. Likely to be law abiding and respectivble. Like the BMA.
Outsider groups
those that are not consulted by the Govt but instead try to influence policy decisions from the outside. For example Just stop Oil are an outsider.
The BMA
The doctors trade union to improve pay and conditions which lobbies the govt to pay for improvements to healthcare. 160.000 members. BMA Breifs MP’s on health policy and organised the first full strike by doctors.
Successes:
Plays a leading role in every debate about public debate in healthcare.
One of the most respected insider groups.
Led calls for PPE during the COVID pandemic.
Introduced the sugar tax, smoking ban in public places and compulsory seatbelts.
Failures:
The BMA cancelled plans for a second strike because hostpitas weren’t prepared. The Govt didn’t give into Junior doctors pre covid.
Extinction Rebellion
Main aims:
Make Govt tell truth by declaring climate emergency
Have the govt create a citizens assembly to decide how to deal with the climate emergency.
Set up in 2018.
Peaceful direct action and civil disobedience.
Mass protests including spraying the treasury building with fake blood.
Mass arrests intended to fill police cells.
Successes:
The environment has never been as important in consideration as it is today. All parties have committed to making the uk carbon neutral.
Scotland set up the climate assembly.
Failures:
Criticism of some actions for being unhelpful stunts.
The pace of Govt is too slow.
Divisions have split and hammered the group.
XR went into hypernation during covid and was never able to recover.
Limitations of Insider/Outsider classes
Some groups are only consulted occasionaly and have little real interference.
Insider groups can become outsider and vice versa.
The groups actions and the government in power may impact the status of a group. The TPA is more likely to be supported by a Conservative government and Unite the Union is more likley under a Labour Govt.
Promotional groups
Those that promote specific causes- fathers 4 justice. Shelter the homeless charity. Inclusive groups and altruistic (members are there for their own benefit). Interest groups are those that exits to defend the interest of a group. All trade unions are Interest groups.
Limitations of promotional group classification
Some groups do not fit nicely into wither. the BMA is a union and hence promotional group however it is also an insider group.
Influencing the government and parliament
Insider groups try to directly influence ministers and civil servants through consultations or face to face meetings.
Influencing parliament
Pressure groups lobby MP’s to try to influence their votes on government bills. They try to convince MP’s to introduce private members bills for their cause. They can be asked to appear before a backbench committee. Committee reports are considered seriously by the Govt.
They may lobby the HOL to amend legislation.
Influencing parties
The Labour Party has strong union routes which can influence their policies. Some pressure groups attend party conference to try to influence members and key figures.
Using the courts to try to influence govt policy.
Pressure groups may try to overturn govt decision’s with legal action. An example will be with R V Miller.
Appealing to the public as a method of changing Govt policy.
Pressure groups attract public support by making themselves were to the media. All pressure benefit from public support but especially more importantly for outsider groups. Demonstrations and marches can bring important issues to the publics attention and show widespread support for a cause like Black Lives Matter.
Direct Action
This is any acton taken by a pressure group beyond the usual constitutional methods of campaigning. Direct action uses usual forms of campaigning as well as more unusual headline grabbing attempts like blocking runways and climbing buildings.
Some Direct action is legal like trade union strikes but some is illegal such as civil disobedience.
Some direct action is aimed to win support like the Pride marches however other direct action attempts are aimed at compelling the government to change govt policy.
Factors which influence the affectedness of pressure groups.
- membership
- Resources
- Aims
- Public Support
- Methods and Strategy
- Celebrity enforcement
- Links with political parties
- Links with government
- Relationship with the media
- Legal victotories
Think tanks as an influence on government
- Think tanks are organisations that exist to develop new ideas and policies.
- They are founded privately though donations from individuals and businesses.
- Some have a clear position on the political spectrum. IEA (Institute for economic affairs) is right wig.
- Others are indeoendant like chatham house, in international policy think tank. While independent of political parties they aim to convince political parties or the govt to adopt their issue. Many politicians have close links with think tanks. Think tanks produce detailed policy reports and details.
Example of an old think tank associated with the Labour party
The Fabian Society
Lobbyists as an influence on the Government
Lobbyists are political operatives who are paid to influence the government.
They are usually employed by corporations or wealthy pressure groups. Some hire independent lobbying firms and others have in house lobbyists.
Lobbyists arrange meetings with ministers and influential politicians and advocate on behalf of their employer.
Many former politicians turn to lobbying as a second Job. Cameron was employed by Greensill and was paid millions of pounds in stock. he was later investigated by the lobbying watchdog committee which he himself set up. He was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Corporations as a vessel to influence government
- May be invited by government to help produce legislation.
- They lobby the government for favourable conditions for their cooperation.
- They may threaten to leave the UK.
- They may be able to structure their company such that they didn’t have to pay taxation.
- Many owners of larger businesses may also donate to political parties.
- many wanted to remain in the EU, a preference which the British public ignored
- Many fund think thanks such as British American Tabbacco.
What is pluralisum
A situation in which different groups, including pressure groups, compete for equally for power and for influence. It is the opposite of elitism.
Pressure groups as postitive
- The pluralist interpretation is that pressure groups are an essential part of democracy as they allow different sections of society to be heard by government.
- Pressure groups allow one idea to be represented even if it is not the most important issue for many people.
- Allow people to participate in democracy over a period of time.
- Many pressure groups have more members than political parties.
- Pressure groups provide the government with information and statistics it might othersiewr not discover.
- Since significant ristrictions have been levied on trade unions they are now less able to participle in democracy creating more room for pressure groups.
Pressure groups as bad for democracy
- Give a louder voice to the most powerful.
- Wealthy educated and well connected people are better able to form inflential pressure groups than the poor and disadvantaged.
- Pressure groups often have limited internal democracy.
-PRessire groups are not accoutable to the people - Violent aggressive campaigning methods are opposed too the rile of law and democracy
- The new right interpretation is that trade union strikes and DA were an attempt to undermine the state.
