pressure groups Flashcards
how do pressure groups use courts to achieve their aims
prove uk law violates EU/HR
what are interventions
individuals /organisations not involved in court cases but interested in outcome
submit additional info to judges
suprational issues
issue goes beyond single nations borders
why has lobbying the EU become more attractive in recent decades
if passed in the EU will be implemented in the UK
doctrine of supremacy
EU laws replacing conflicting national laws
indirect lobbying
focus on their affect on the public
educate public+ collect polling data to holdMPs accountable
how do pressure groups use social media
buy advertising space
media to cover issues
likes show support #refugeeswelcome
direct action
violent or non violent protest can be legal or illegal
strike
property damage
sit in
why is direct action tempting for outsiders
outsiders don’t have contacts or status
e-democracy
petitions
38 degrees
similarities between pressure groups and political parties
aims to make political changes
have leaders,members+volunteers
characteristics of pressure groups
influence government
lots of them
not held accountable
focus on particular issue
characteristics of political parties
aim to form government
few of them
held accountable
consider multiple issues
what are single issue parties
don’t want to win power/seats
use election for protest votes and publicity
what are social movements
inform network of people who support broadly similar goals whereas pressure groups are formal+specific goal
give an example of a pressure group and social movement
social movement= feminism
pressure group= suffragists
why do methods used by social groups change over time
they use direct action and protest and they change as they grow and ideas are becoming more popular and accepted
left wing movements
gay rights movement
civil right movement
right wing movements
countryside alliance to oppose ban on fox hunting
main functions of pressure groups
representation participation education policy formation policy implementation scrutiny
explain the function of representation in pressure groups
represent specific sections of society
all interests and views considered
gives minorities a voice
explain the function of participation in pressure groups
significant as party membership declines+election turnout
single issue= more likely to feel represented than supporting a party so will participate
have alternative say in political process
explain the function of education in pressure groups
raise awareness and inform public
provide evidence to government+use expertise to improve legislation
explain policy formation in pressure groups
works closely wi government to develop new policies
explain policy implementation in pressure groups
puts policies in place+makes them successful
explain scrutiny in pressure groups
help to hold representatives accountable
have resources and expertise to scrutinise bills+motion actions
why do pressure groups aims have an impact on its chance of success
simplier aims have more access
some more compatible with current government policy may have more success
why do financial resources give some groups an advantage
hire lobbyists
donate to political party
hard to ignore businesses that have great influence over policy
why are human resources important to a pressure group
large membership base= more legitimate
methods e.g strike= more effective
increase financial resources
what are umbrella groups
represents interests of a no. of different pressure groups with similar interests/causes
example of umbrella groups
COPA
why can status have an impact on success
insider status helps to become member of policy communities+issues networks
shape legislation before drafted
why is representation important for pressure groups
essential for minority groups, unpopular causes, overlooked issues +vunerable groups
work on peoples behalf (homeless)
prevents tyranny of majority
NIMBYism
‘not in my back yard’
protest plan- want it to happen somewhere else
usually infrastructure
hyperpluralism
lots of groups, very influential which prevent government functionally effectively
money wasted on vocal interest groups, government can’t ignore
why are pressure groups so important for political participation
participate inbetween elections so officials aware of public opinion
encourage participation in a time formal participation is in decline
raise engagement levels
why is internal democracy an issue in pressure groups
unelected leaders make important decisions
few members actively involved
cheque book members
people make donations/membership fee
go no further in participation
primary pressure groups
represents interest and views e.g trade unions
secondary pressure groups
mainly provide services to members e.g automobile association (AA)
how do pressure groups educate the public
raise issues overlooked by political parties
media campaign- expose new arguments+facts
clicktivism
actions performed via internet in support of issue but requires little involvement
how can education provided by pressure groups be questioned
one sided picture carefully select facts wants to use selective exposure (mislead public)
pluralist theory
power fragmented+dispersed, large no. of groups compete with equal opportunity
pluralist democracy
open+fair competition between all political parties
so many groups competing that one can’t become too powerful
revolving door
movement of retired ministers and civil servants into lobbyists- lobby old colleagues
elite theory
power is concentrated+ restricted
many groups compete, only few have real influence
how could pressure group reinforce inequality
wealthy+well connected individuals have resources+statuse to effectively lobby
easier for them to protect their interests+status
how can pressure groups help limit power of the government
select committees invite them to give evidence
can take legal action when government acts unlawfully
^ultra vires
or if legislation infringes on human rights
why did douglas hurd describe pressure groups as “serpents that strangle efficient government”
pressure group activity slows down legislation process
tyranny of minority
give voice to minority- if these groups have great government influence- needs of few put above of needs of broader population
how does the electoral mandate won by the government affect the scrutiny role of pressure groups
weaker mandate increases importance of pressure groups scrutinising the government
why has the growth of the state impacted pressure groups
more interest in government policy (more PG) more complexity (PG role grows to fill knowledge gap)
what is a post industrial society
provide services
what is a post materialist society
economically affluent focus on non material values
why has ‘politics of the identity’become more important
issues aren’t identified as political parties
what is politics of identity
organization going beyond class to include other social groups e.g gender + culture
how has the decline in support for political parties impacted pressure groups
pressure groups and parties in competition
increased the amount
how have advances in education shaped pressure groups
easier for groups to form and publicise their message
how has advances in technology shaped pressure groups
easier access to news means population better informed
how has advances in media shaped pressure groups
internet+ e-democracy= more formal participation
easier to organize collective action
media scrutiny
how have constitutional reforms increased influence of pressure groups
no. of access points
1973 reform
PG could now lobby EU
1998 reform
PG could seek judicial review
1999 reform
PG lobby Scottish parliament, NI+welsh assembly
how did the HRA give PG influence
could now be upheld in UK courts
makes it easier for minority groups to protect their interests
what is corporatism
government+interest group elites work together and make important decisions without the voters
what has happened to trade union membership levels
decrease bc economy has changed
rise in tertiary sector+signifcant legislation
2014 gagging law
cut amount that groups can spend on influencing elections by 60%
what is the 2014 gagging law also known as
the transparency of lobbying, non party, campaigning and trade union administration act
RMT union
national union of rail, maritime and transport workers
founded 1990
aims of RMT
promote and defend the rights and conditions of members employed
status of RMT
until 2004 was part of Labour- insider influence
influence reduced with conservative government
RMT social media
raise awareness for campaigns to gain public support
example of an RMT success
2011-12 lobbied transport for London about workload increase on underground staff 2012 Olympics
£850 bonuses £1000 for drivers
example of RMT failure
protest against ticket office closing
striked
289 ticket offices closed
Green Peace
non governmental organization operates on international scale
founded in Canada 1971
Green Peace members
2.9 million
aims of green peace
causal group
campaigned centered around;
climate change,forests,oceans,agriculture
methods used by green peace
relied on direct action
increasingly using insider methods
example of green peace direct action
boarding a whale ship
publicly destroying GM crops
example of green peace success
campaign to stop tuna fishing using aggregating devices
direct and indirect action resulted in supermarkets providing clearer labelling
example of green peace failure
failed to prevent cairn energy
methods alienated local population
CBI
confederation of british industry
what is the CBI
business organization speaks for 190,000 businesses
largest component is national farmers union
aim of the CBI
promotes business interests by lobbying and advising government
methods used by the CBI
surveys
campaigning e.g great business debate campaign
core insider pressure groups
closely and regularly work with government
specialist pressure groups
particular issues - specialism required
peripheral insider groups
participate as insiders but with very little influence
ideological pressure groups
differences in ideological views make it impossible to work with the government
necessity pressure groups
lack of knowledge to become insider
potential pressure groups
lacking support and experience
3 types of insider groups
core insider
specialist
peripheral
3 types of outsider groups
ideological
necessity
potential
what are the problems of categorising pressure groups by status
status is not fixed can change
what are points of access
people and places that a pressure groups can attempt to apply pressure for their desired change
what are benefits of lobbying the executive branch
target ministers and civil servants to ensure your issues are on the agenda
shape bills before they are written, easier than securing ammendments in parliament
what are professional lobbyists
someone attempts to influence government policy and legislation on behalf of another individual or groups
usually retired politicians
what is a government consultation
government invite responses from individuals + groups outside parliament
what are green papers
sets various ideas for a bill- provoke debate and outside input
what are white papers
sets out concrete intentions for upcoming bill invites comment + outside input
what is a policy community
small and stable groups, government officials+interest groups. shared interest in policy areas
what is a issue network
looser+larger include pressure groups and academics
more disgreements
what is secondary legislation
rules and regulations made by ministers under power given by an act of parliament
why would pressure groups be interested in secondary legislation
groups would be interested so they can shape regulations which will affect them
what are ballot bills and why do groups try to influence them
MP wanting to introduce private members bills can put their name forward
20 names randomly drawn beginning of year
priority to timetable their bill
can suggest their own bills for debate
why do pressure groups work with select committees
can lend their expertise to help scrutinise the government
e.g department of health scrutinised by health committee
how and why do groups lobby political parties
donate, attend conferences , build long term link to influence decisions
