Pressure Groups Flashcards
What are the 8 functions of a pressure group? Give examples for each.
1) Represent our interests to the government (Eg: trade unions/ Age UK)
2) Promote social progress and liberal ideas (Eg: Stonewall and gay marriage)
3) Help to educate the public ( Eg: Greenpeace CND)
4) Help government gauge pinko opinion (ID Cards scrapped because of Liberty and No2ID)
5) Provide stability by enabling people to ‘let off steam’ (Eg: 2014 Gaza protests)
6) Providing specialist knowledge (Eg: BMA and the 2012 H&SC act)
7) Maintaing a healthy pluralist democracy (Eg: EDL and Britain First being tolerated)
8) Scrutiny function (Eg: Shelter)
Why are the House of Lords easier to target for Pressure Groups?
They’re less disciplined than the Commons.
Give 2 examples of pressure groups that only exist on social media.
Britain First and Another Angry Voice.
Give an example of a pressure group targeting the House of Lords.
Christian groups like ‘Christian Voice’ targeting a number of key Lords including the Bishops to have exemptions placed on the 2010 equality act so they could discriminate against gay people for religious reasons.
Give an example of non payment of taxes.
1990 Poll Tax protests.
Give two examples of MPs that support a particular pressure group.
Caroline Lucas and no more page 3. And Sarah Champion and Barnardos.
In what year did CND make their inaugural march at Aldermaston?
1958.
What are sectional/interest pressure groups? Give examples.
A pressure group that represents a specific section of society and promotes the best interests of their members.
Eg: The Taxpayer’s Alliance, NFU, RIBA, BMA, GMB and the Law Society.
Give two examples of boycotts.
Anti-apartheid boycotts in the 1980’s and Anti-Israel boycotts in 2014.
What are insider pressure groups? Give examples.
Pressure groups that operate inside the political system, through contacts with peers, ministers and official committees. They are regularly consulted by government.
Eg: CBI, NFU, BMA.
What are cause/issue promotional pressure groups?
A pressure group that seeks to promote altruism and a cause rather than the interests of it’s members.
Eg: Red Cross, YMCA, Oxfam, Amnesty International, Greenpeace etc
Identify the features of an insider group.
They must follow the law and don’t challenge the Status Quo.
What is an outsider pressure group? Give examples.
Outsider groups have no specific link with government and so seek to influence decision making by mobilising public opinion.
Eg: Earth First! Occupy, HSA.
Why might a pressure group be an outsider?
- They may prefer to retain their independence and freedom of action
- They may break the law
- They may not comply with the government’s agenda
- They may be relatively young and not had chance to become insiders yet.
What is a dual function pressure group? Give examples.
Groups which may have unpopular ideas but have access to wealth and infrastructure to lobby the government.
Eg: Hacked Off and Greenpeace.