Pressure groups Flashcards
What is sectional pressure groups?
Represent the interests of a particular group within society
What is an outsider group?
- have little or no access to government decision making
- tend to use methods that appeal directly to win public support and apply pressure to government indirectly
What is a cause group?
Promote a particular issue, members can be drawn from across society
What is an insider group?
- Has privileged access to government decision making
- often meeting with ministers and senior civil servants
What is a pressure group?
an association whose aim is to influence policy making at a local, regional national level without actually seeking power
What is a connection between insider methods and accountability?
If you have evidence and you make it publicly known, you are holding government accountable
Make a connection between insider methods and representation?
They represent the public directly to the government
Name three methods used by insider groups?
- working with ministers
- working with parliament
- working with political parties
Name three methods used by outsider groups?
- engaging the public
- using technology
- using the courts
What is the difference between an ‘in house lobbyist’ and ‘PR firms’?
- in house does not have to be registered as lobbyists
Examples of sectional pressure groups?
- national union of students
- national education and union
- BMA - British medical association
- RSPB
Examples of cause pressure groups?
- CBI
- Insulate Britain
- Friends of the Earth
- Campaign against the Arms Trade
Pros of pressure groups
- equalities act 2010 was due to PGs
- increases participation between elections
- gives minorities a voice
- hold governments accountable
- informs the public and governments
How can pressure groups be bad?
- not internally democratic
- worries that governments only listen to the rich internal groups
- issues with the revolving door
- issues with think tanks
- inequality of voice
