Pressure groups

Question 1

defining pressure groups

Answer 1

a pressure group is a organization which seeks as one of its functions to influence the formulation and impanation of public policy.
a pressure group is an organization which campaigns to influence politics.
pressure groups can be small such as local conversation groups with only a handful of members or their membership may be huge such as the united nations.
development such as freedom of information laws, media, litigation culture.
pressure groups are aware of their powers.

Question 2

what is a social movement ?

Answer 2

is a long- term campaign for the improvement of some area of society.
a social movement is generally less organized than a pressure group and may include many types of pressure groups.

Question 3

social movement
example

Answer 3

the gay rights movement includes pressure groups stonewall and outrage, and internet campaigns such as all out. it also includes other groups such as the national union of teachers.

Question 4

new styles of political activism

Answer 4

so called ‘new politics’.
popular protests, marches, sit-ins, direct action and so on.
that has to be attracted to a bod of young people disillusioned by ‘conventional politics’.
this creates more complicated picture of ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’.

Question 5

new politics
example

Answer 5

fifteen annite-deportation activists who where prosecuted under counter-terror legislation for blocking the takeoff of an immigration removal flight from Stansted.

Question 6

participation due to pressure groups.

Answer 6

voter turnout and party membership are often used to determine the level of political engagement in the UK
However, active participation in various organizations and groups is also a good measurement in determining the health of democracy in society.
pressure groups provide a platform for participation and political engagement between elections which can help reduce voters lack of interest.

Question 7

participation
example

Answer 7

the 2019 general election broke a run of four successive elections in which turnout increased. turnout was 67.3% across the UK, down by 1.5 percentages points compared within 2017 (68.8%). it was the second-highest general election turnout since 1997 (71.4).

Question 8

key factors of pressure groups

Answer 8

Specific policy or issue
exclusive of selective membership
win seat to raise public awareness
grassroots based
run by small group of individuals
normally donations from local community

Question 9

key factors of political party’s

Answer 9

broad polices for broad groups
open membership and structure
wins seats to win power
grassroots organization
international democracy
donations from across society

Question 10

how do pressure groups gain recognition

Answer 10

some pressure groups use elections as a tactical weapon, any group that puts candidates up for elections is technically a party.
some pressure groups use elections for publicity and media attention.

Question 11

importance of pressure groups

Answer 11

the decline in voter turnout and in membership of political parties has increased the importance of pressure groups.
there is a renewed interest in the role of pressure groups in increasing political participation for the number of people who feel that traditional parties are not trusted or fail to represent their needs

Question 12

why has their been a decrease in voter turnout

Answer 12

a rise in career politicians has resulted in a loss of faith in the political system.
researchers carried out into the perceived ‘participation crisis’ suggest that the main reason for low voter turnout especially among the young is the belief that political party’s do not fulfill their promises and are unreliable as activists of peoples needs.
this decade has seen a correlation between the decline in voting and political party membership and a rise in membership of pressure groups, making this important political topic.

Question 13

what types of pressure groups are their ?

Answer 13

cause groups
sectional groups

Question 14

what are cause groups

Answer 14

cause groups campaign on behalf of a particular cause

Question 15

example of a cause group

Answer 15

Greenpeace is an example of a pressure group on a local, national and international level and is concerned with environmental issues such as climate change and deforestation.

Question 16

one more example of a cause group

Answer 16

liberty, which is a pressure group concerned with the protection and premotion of human rights

Question 17

what is a sectional group

Answer 17

campaigning on behalf of a specific group in society.
they try to make sure that needs and views of that group are taken on board by political leaders.

Question 18

example of a sectional group

Answer 18

the British medical association which is concerned with securing better conditions for doctors in the medical profession
65 percent of all doctors in the UK are registered with the BMA. other sectional pressure groups include the national unition of teachers and the law society.

Question 19

what is another was of classifying pressure groups ?

Answer 19

another way of classifying pressure groups which focuses on their success with government which is defying them as insider or outsider.

Question 20

what is a insider pressure group ?

Answer 20

a insider pressure group are more likely to have the ear of the government and to be called upon to give expert witness during the pre-legislation period.
these groups may be well established sectional groups whose views are respected.
British medical association and the confederation industry are two such groups

Question 21

what is a outsider group

Answer 21

may be very popular but are generally groups who find it hard to access the government and are unlikely to be called by government to give advice.
these groups may be outsiders because of their aim or methods.

Question 22

what methods do pressure groups use ?

Answer 22

conventional and direct action

Question 23

what are conventional methods ?

Answer 23

they are regarded as more successful as they are non-threatening and adhere to the rule of law.
insider groups are associated with more convectional methods.

Question 24

examples of some conventional mothods

Answer 24

letter writing
petitioning
marches
demonstrations
legal challenges
collecting information
giving advice

Question 25

what is direct action ?

Answer 25

it can take a number of forms and is more likely to be employed if a group feels that its cause id being ignored direct action may also be favored by groups who have an antagonistic attitude or distrustful attitude towards the state.

Question 26

examples of direct action methods

Answer 26

occupying areas/blocking holding legal marches holding talks to raise public awareness which leas to further direct action debates can also include the se of illegal threats or intimidation can reflect a failure to be heard through conventional methods and extreme methods which will usually put people off supporting their aims.

Question 27

examples of traditional pressure group activity petitioning

Answer 27

the snowdrop campaign 1996 gained 750,000 signatures in 6 weeks. in 2011 the government set up a e-petition website, if a petition gains more then 100,000 signatures it can be considered by debate from MPs.

Question 28

example of direct action occupying public places

Answer 28

occupation of public places. occupying London did just that and they set up key sights in London in 2012 as part of their ani-capitalist protest against austerity and the governments handling of the banking crisis which sparked the economic downturn in 2008.

Question 29

direct action example strikes

Answer 29

mass public sector strikes took place in july 2014 which disrupted a number of public services such as school and hospitals.

Question 30

why are some pressure groups more successful than others ?

Answer 30

how well achievable their aims are / how likely they are to succeed. having a large membership a well-educated membership who have a clear idea of how to conduct a successful campaign celebrity inducement to gain a better media profile how much money they have to fund there campaigns and research and having media support insider statues is the most important for ensuring aims.

Question 31

do pressure groups help democracy ?

Answer 31

depends on personal perspective for some, pressure groups are a essential way of giving and keeping people engaged with politics. which give the public a opportunity to influence decision making

Question 32

why may some people believe pressure groups hinder democracy ?

Answer 32

for others, they are undemocratic and unnecessary in a represented democracy.

Question 33

who views pressure groups helpful for democracy

Answer 33

the view that pressure groups enhance democracy is often espoused by pluralist and liberals. they believe that pressure groups allow different views to be heard by government and therefore are good for democracy

Question 34

why do pluralists and liberals argue that pressure groups enhance democracy ?

Answer 34

they point out that pressure groups supply the government and individual MPs with statistics and information which may help them formulate better policy's. pressure groups allow opportunities for single issues which might be important, but which are not big enough to be the focuses of a electoral campaign to be discussed.

Question 35

example

Answer 35

the banning of tobacco in enclosed spaces around children.

Question 36

what do supporters of pressure groups argue

Answer 36

they would argue that they give the electorate an opportunity to participate in the political processes between elections which reduces voter disengagement and keep political class on their toes.

Question 37

opponents of pressure groups come prom two varying prospective what are these called ?

Answer 37

left and right

Question 38

what do lefts believe

Answer 38

they are suspicious of the tendency/likelihood of wealthy groups to have their say whilst those who have less money or represent poorer groups in society do not.

Question 39

what do people on the right believe ?

Answer 39

they think pressure groups interfere in the operation of the role of democratically elected governments and should not be allowed to do so.

Question 40

what is the elitist view

Answer 40

would clame the fact that pressure groups are inherently undemocratic and allow the rich, well educated and well- connected to have grated access to political power then poor and disadvantaged. they would also point out that pressure groups themselves may not be very internally democratic, raising questions about the extent to which they actually represent the views of its members.

Question 41

what is the new right view

Answer 41

associated with the conservatives in the 1980s under Margaret thatcher, and the pressure groups they disliked most where the trade unions who they views as there arch enemies. from the perspective of the new right, it is the job of politicians and parties to make policy as they are accountable to the people though elections and that allowing pressure groups access power or to influence decision making is fundamentally undemocratic.