Pressure Groups Flashcards
Pressure Groups Essay Structure
Introduction Electoral reform society Child Poverty Action Group CND Fathers4Justice Overall impact in democracy Conclusion
Pressure groups introduction
- set up to influence government policies and decisions but don’t want power
- offers public chance to voice opinions between elections ever 4-5 years
- thousands of pressure groups in UK meanwhile party membership is falling
- power enquiry claims that people are just as political but feel they can have more influence with direct action
Electoral Reform Society (ERS)
K - Insider group who’s aim is to build better democracy
by obtaining vote for 16
year olds, changing voting system to PR system
- success in obtaining votes for 16 and 17 year olds in
Scotland in 2014
- seized opportunity during independence referendum
by making case for lasting investment in political
education for young people
An - Despite being insider group, not always influential
- Failed to change to alternative vote in 2011 with 68%
voting to keep the current FPTP system
- They were disappointed in the NO vote and they
were not very influential as they feel the referendum
question was very restrictive.
Ev - Many successes but power is still limited as they
weren’t able to achieve their main goal and their is
still a lot of unfairness in FPTP system with
governments gaining majority without majority of the
votes.
Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)
K - Insider pressure group which campaigns for policies
that would benefit children and reduce poverty
- success in end poverty by 2020 campaign as the
government pledged to do it in 1999
- David Cameron committed the Conservatives to end
child poverty and as a result, the Child Poverty Act
2010 was passed.
An - Child poverty is still a huge problem
- 1 in 4 children in the UK are in poverty, in some areas
of Scotland, its 1 in 3.
- Doing really poorly compared to countries of similar
wealth. Norway and Denmark’s rates are 1 in 10.
Ev - Made impact by stopping benefit cuts but still not
completely effective as poverty levels are predicted
to be worse by 2020
Campaign for nuclear disarmament (CND)
K - Outsider group which isn’t linked to government and
can use media to publicise cause.
- Influential after taking on Lynx for using peace logo.
- Peace logo was designed by member of CND and
purposefully not copyrighted to become global
symbol, but Lynx’s use is against purpose
- Lynx were criticised by millions on social media and
ended up paying CND money
An - Not successful in abolishing weapons of mass
destruction
- Support from Scotland, SNP and Greens who are
against Trident (UK nuclear submarine) which is in
Faslane Naval Base in Scotland.
- British opinion still favours it, billions spent on
upgrading.
Ev - Even though they can garner media attention,
defence is a reserved matter so support from
Scotland does not have to be listened to.
- Also showing new technological methods better than
traditional
Fathers4Justice
K - Outsider group which campaigns for rights of fathers
to access their children.
- Successful in gaining huge media attention after using
stunts such as interrupting meetings in superhero
costumes and throwing purple flour bombs in the
House of Commons.
An - Still not met their political aims though.
- Missed opportunity to change legislation after
refusing to table amendments to Children and
Families Bill in 2013 after being invited by MPs.
Ev - Gained attention of media but not taken seriously or
made any significant change, even though they were
given a chance.
Overall Influence of Pressure Groups (part in democracy)
K - Can gain attention but decisions are ultimately made
in Parliaments
- There is no compulsion for representatives to listen to
pressure groups.
- People’s Vote had over 700000 people march in
London for a second Brexit Referendum but this has
been ignored.
An - Had failures but it does play an important role in
democracy as it brings important issues to attention.
- Smaller groups of people get a voice and makes
decision makers aware of the problems.
- CND have been unsuccessful in getting rid of WMD
but have brought attention to millions being spent on
nuclear weapons during time of welfare cuts
Ev - Although decisions made by government, UK is a
democracy and allowing pressure groups is one very
important way for people to voice opinions.
Pressure groups conclusion
- Pressure groups have an influence to a certain extent.
- Insider groups very influential as they are linked to the government and groups such as BMA are often consulted by MPs for expert opinions during changes to legislation
- Outsider groups are not as influential as they have to rely on support from the public and media attention to get their point across.
