pressure groups Flashcards
1
Q
how do pressure groups use courts to achieve their aims
A
prove uk law violates EU/HR
2
Q
what are interventions
A
individuals /organisations not involved in court cases but interested in outcome
submit additional info to judges
3
Q
suprational issues
A
issue goes beyond single nations borders
4
Q
why has lobbying the EU become more attractive in recent decades
A
if passed in the EU will be implemented in the UK
5
Q
doctrine of supremacy
A
EU laws replacing conflicting national laws
6
Q
indirect lobbying
A
focus on their affect on the public
educate public+ collect polling data to holdMPs accountable
7
Q
how do pressure groups use social media
A
buy advertising space
media to cover issues
likes show support #refugeeswelcome
8
Q
direct action
A
violent or non violent protest can be legal or illegal
strike
property damage
sit in
9
Q
why is direct action tempting for outsiders
A
outsiders don’t have contacts or status
10
Q
e-democracy
A
petitions
38 degrees
11
Q
similarities between pressure groups and political parties
A
aims to make political changes
have leaders,members+volunteers
12
Q
characteristics of pressure groups
A
influence government
lots of them
not held accountable
focus on particular issue
13
Q
characteristics of political parties
A
aim to form government
few of them
held accountable
consider multiple issues
14
Q
what are single issue parties
A
don’t want to win power/seats
use election for protest votes and publicity
15
Q
what are social movements
A
inform network of people who support broadly similar goals whereas pressure groups are formal+specific goal
16
Q
give an example of a pressure group and social movement
A
social movement= feminism
pressure group= suffragists
17
Q
why do methods used by social groups change over time
A
they use direct action and protest and they change as they grow and ideas are becoming more popular and accepted
18
Q
left wing movements
A
gay rights movement
civil right movement
19
Q
right wing movements
A
countryside alliance to oppose ban on fox hunting
20
Q
main functions of pressure groups
A
representation participation education policy formation policy implementation scrutiny
21
Q
explain the function of representation in pressure groups
A
represent specific sections of society
all interests and views considered
gives minorities a voice
22
Q
explain the function of participation in pressure groups
A
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
23
Q
explain the function of education in pressure groups
A
raise awareness and inform public
provide evidence to government+use expertise to improve legislation
24
Q
explain policy formation in pressure groups
A
works closely wi government to develop new policies
25
explain policy implementation in pressure groups
puts policies in place+makes them successful
26
explain scrutiny in pressure groups
help to hold representatives accountable
| have resources and expertise to scrutinise bills+motion actions
27
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
28
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
29
why are human resources important to a pressure group
large membership base= more legitimate
methods e.g strike= more effective
increase financial resources
30
what are umbrella groups
represents interests of a no. of different pressure groups with similar interests/causes
31
example of umbrella groups
COPA
32
why can status have an impact on success
insider status helps to become member of policy communities+issues networks
shape legislation before drafted
33
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
34
NIMBYism
'not in my back yard'
protest plan- want it to happen somewhere else
usually infrastructure
35
hyperpluralism
lots of groups, very influential which prevent government functionally effectively
money wasted on vocal interest groups, government can't ignore
36
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
37
why is internal democracy an issue in pressure groups
unelected leaders make important decisions
| few members actively involved
38
cheque book members
people make donations/membership fee
| go no further in participation
39
primary pressure groups
represents interest and views e.g trade unions
40
secondary pressure groups
mainly provide services to members e.g automobile association (AA)
41
how do pressure groups educate the public
raise issues overlooked by political parties
| media campaign- expose new arguments+facts
42
clicktivism
actions performed via internet in support of issue but requires little involvement
43
how can education provided by pressure groups be questioned
```
one sided picture
carefully select facts wants to use
selective exposure (mislead public)
```
44
pluralist theory
power fragmented+dispersed, large no. of groups compete with equal opportunity
45
pluralist democracy
open+fair competition between all political parties
| so many groups competing that one can't become too powerful
46
revolving door
movement of retired ministers and civil servants into lobbyists- lobby old colleagues
47
elite theory
power is concentrated+ restricted
| many groups compete, only few have real influence
48
how could pressure group reinforce inequality
wealthy+well connected individuals have resources+statuse to effectively lobby
easier for them to protect their interests+status
49
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
50
why did douglas hurd describe pressure groups as "serpents that strangle efficient government"
pressure group activity slows down legislation process
51
tyranny of minority
give voice to minority- if these groups have great government influence- needs of few put above of needs of broader population
52
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
53
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)
```
54
what is a post industrial society
provide services
55
what is a post materialist society
economically affluent focus on non material values
56
why has 'politics of the identity'become more important
issues aren't identified as political parties
57
what is politics of identity
organization going beyond class to include other social groups e.g gender + culture
58
how has the decline in support for political parties impacted pressure groups
pressure groups and parties in competition
| increased the amount
59
how have advances in education shaped pressure groups
easier for groups to form and publicise their message
60
how has advances in technology shaped pressure groups
easier access to news means population better informed
61
how has advances in media shaped pressure groups
internet+ e-democracy= more formal participation
easier to organize collective action
media scrutiny
62
how have constitutional reforms increased influence of pressure groups
no. of access points
63
1973 reform
PG could now lobby EU
64
1998 reform
PG could seek judicial review
65
1999 reform
PG lobby Scottish parliament, NI+welsh assembly
66
how did the HRA give PG influence
could now be upheld in UK courts
| makes it easier for minority groups to protect their interests
67
what is corporatism
government+interest group elites work together and make important decisions without the voters
68
what has happened to trade union membership levels
decrease bc economy has changed
| rise in tertiary sector+signifcant legislation
69
2014 gagging law
cut amount that groups can spend on influencing elections by 60%
70
what is the 2014 gagging law also known as
the transparency of lobbying, non party, campaigning and trade union administration act
71
RMT union
national union of rail, maritime and transport workers
| founded 1990
72
aims of RMT
promote and defend the rights and conditions of members employed
73
status of RMT
until 2004 was part of Labour- insider influence
| influence reduced with conservative government
74
RMT social media
raise awareness for campaigns to gain public support
75
example of an RMT success
2011-12 lobbied transport for London about workload increase on underground staff 2012 Olympics
£850 bonuses £1000 for drivers
76
example of RMT failure
protest against ticket office closing
striked
289 ticket offices closed
77
Green Peace
non governmental organization operates on international scale
founded in Canada 1971
78
Green Peace members
2.9 million
79
aims of green peace
causal group
campaigned centered around;
climate change,forests,oceans,agriculture
80
methods used by green peace
relied on direct action
| increasingly using insider methods
81
example of green peace direct action
boarding a whale ship
| publicly destroying GM crops
82
example of green peace success
campaign to stop tuna fishing using aggregating devices
| direct and indirect action resulted in supermarkets providing clearer labelling
83
example of green peace failure
failed to prevent cairn energy
| methods alienated local population
84
CBI
confederation of british industry
85
what is the CBI
business organization speaks for 190,000 businesses
| largest component is national farmers union
86
aim of the CBI
promotes business interests by lobbying and advising government
87
methods used by the CBI
surveys
| campaigning e.g great business debate campaign
88
core insider pressure groups
closely and regularly work with government
89
specialist pressure groups
particular issues - specialism required
90
peripheral insider groups
participate as insiders but with very little influence
91
ideological pressure groups
differences in ideological views make it impossible to work with the government
92
necessity pressure groups
lack of knowledge to become insider
93
potential pressure groups
lacking support and experience
94
3 types of insider groups
core insider
specialist
peripheral
95
3 types of outsider groups
ideological
necessity
potential
96
what are the problems of categorising pressure groups by status
status is not fixed can change
97
what are points of access
people and places that a pressure groups can attempt to apply pressure for their desired change
98
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
99
what are professional lobbyists
someone attempts to influence government policy and legislation on behalf of another individual or groups
usually retired politicians
100
what is a government consultation
government invite responses from individuals + groups outside parliament
101
what are green papers
sets various ideas for a bill- provoke debate and outside input
102
what are white papers
sets out concrete intentions for upcoming bill invites comment + outside input
103
what is a policy community
small and stable groups, government officials+interest groups. shared interest in policy areas
104
what is a issue network
looser+larger include pressure groups and academics
| more disgreements
105
what is secondary legislation
rules and regulations made by ministers under power given by an act of parliament
106
why would pressure groups be interested in secondary legislation
groups would be interested so they can shape regulations which will affect them
107
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
108
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
109
how and why do groups lobby political parties
donate, attend conferences , build long term link to influence decisions
