Pressure Groups Flashcards
What is a insider group
Consulted by government on specific issues
Have to have a strong public image so gov can trust them
What is a outsider group
influence from the outside
some work for inner status and some are ideologically opposed to the government
What is a cause group
aim to achieve a political goal and change peoples opinion on a issue
What is a interest group
a group that aids to represent a specific section in society
Examples of Insider groups
Liberty
Howard League for Penal Reform
British Medical Association
Action on smoking and health
Examples of outsider groups
Amnesty International
Extinction Rebellion
Just stop oil
Liberty
Liberty are a peaceful law abiding pressure group who seek to work with the government to avoid civil liberties being infringed in the first place.
Methods - petitions and campaigns
Amnesty International
They are a group that aim to bring greater public awareness to human rights being abused and put pressure on the government.
Methods: Mass letter writing campaigns, petitions
Howard league for penal reform
Campaigns for the civil rights of those who are incarcerated.
Methods: The group does detailed research into the impact of gov policy and holds meeting with government.
British Medical Association(BMA)
Represents the rights of doctors and medical students.
Methods: lobbies the government to improve health care legislation.
Extinction Rebellion
Campaign for government to tell the truth over climate change and act on stopping further bio-diversity loss.
Methods: peaceful mass protests, roadblocks
1800 protesters arrested in 2018
Just Stop Oil
Campaign for stopping the use of fossil fuels
and government policy improving.
Methods: paint, glue to roads, roadblocks, vandalism.
What makes some pressure groups successful
Wealth- if a group has wealthy members and a large fund they can make campaigns bigger
Size- Larger pressure groups can have greater lobbying success
Organisation/Leadership- if a group has a clear leader and are organised it can make look better as there is clear routs for accountability
Popular support- if there is a large support or membership for a group it can make influence more significant
Party affiliations- if a group has a strong affiliation with a party there influence is greater if that party is in power
What are Lobbyists
individuals and firms that are paid by someone to influence the government or peers to act in their clients interests (particularly when legislation is being considered)
What happened in the Owen Patterson scandal
Owen Patterson was a conservative MP that was discovered to be breaking lobbying rules. He repeatedly lobbied on behalf of two companies that were paying him more than £100,000 per year. He later resigned from his role as a MP after the government proposed a vote on his actions.
What does revolving door politics mean
the revolving door refers to the process whereby ministers and civil servants leave there role in order to become a lobbyist and are able to user there connections to enhance lobbying impact.
E.g. David Cameron and Greensill capital where after Cameron left office he became a highly paid advisor to Greensill capital to lobby the government where at the start of the COVID crisis he attempted to persuade the government to join a initiative that would make them a lot of money
Whats a think tank
A group of experts who provide advice and ideas on political, social and economic policy funded through private donations.
PGs are good for democracy
PGs give people more opportunity to participate with politics.
e.g 40% of brits are a member of a PG
Can give a voice to unrepresented groups in society.
PGs are bad for democracy
Most groups are small with limited participation
Can give a unrepresentative view of public opinion
Powerful and well-resourced groups often heard more by government - elitist
Revolving door politics
