pressure groups and other influences

Question 1

what is a pressure group?

Answer 1

a narrow focused shared belief or common set of interests group who aim to exert influence from outside.

Question 2

what is a think tank?

Answer 2

-are groups of experts from different backgrounds who are brought together to investigate particular topics and offer solutions to complicated economic social or political issues.

Question 3

what is a lobbyist?

Answer 3

individuals and firms that are paid by clients to influence gov or MP’s and Lords to act in their client’s interest.

Question 4

examples of pressure groups?

Answer 4

-Confederation of British industry.
-extinct rebellion.
-British Medical Association.
-black lives matter.
-National farmers union.

Question 5

examples of think tanks?

Answer 5

-the centre for policy studies.
-the resolution foundation.

Question 6

example of a corporation?

Answer 6

• Tesco PLC

Question 7

different classification of pressure groups?

Answer 7

interest groups, peak group, cause group, insider groups and outsider groups.

Question 8

what is an interest group, pressure group?

Answer 8

-an association whose aim is to influence policy-making at a local, national, regional or European level. and exists to advance or protect the interest of its members. RAC.

Question 9

what is a peak group, pressure group?

Answer 9

also known as umbrella groups, an association or groups with common interests which pool resources and work together to achieve aim - CBI

Question 10

what is a cause group, pressure group?

Answer 10

a pressure group that is based on shared values ideas and principles, - Child poverty.

Question 11

what is an insider group, pressure group?

Answer 11

a pressure group that enjoys regular consultation with the government, and works with government and political parties. CBI

Question 12

what is an outsider group, pressure group?

Answer 12

a pressure group that is either not consulted by the government or does not want to be closely involved with them and instead appeals to public for influence.

Question 13

how effective is working with ministers?

Answer 13

• can be effective as gov consult them so this makes it easier for them to apply influence.
• but if a backbencher is agreed to it then it does not mean it will automatically change.

Question 14

how do pressure groups influence policy with parliament?

Answer 14

-asking mps to introduce amendments to legislation
-influencing the way that MP’s and peers vote on a bill
-private members bills

Question 15

how do pressure groups influence policy with political parties?

Answer 15

-funding and donations

Question 16

what methods do outsider pressure groups use?

Answer 16

-public petitions, marches, demonstrations, judicial review and social media

Question 17

examples of outsider pressure groups?

Answer 17

-stop the war 2003
-just stop oil Oct 2022- stopped roads in London- M25
-Marcus Rashford-#endchildpoverty 1.1 mill

Question 18

how effective is working with parliament?

Answer 18

-somewhat as can effect votes on bills.
-private members bills.
-introduce amendments

Question 19

how effective is working with political parties?

Answer 19

influencing party policy can lead to actual gov policy

Question 20

why are some groups more successful than others?

Answer 20

-wealth- must seek co-op and support of businesses as main source of employment and investment in econ + knowledge that essential to the form of effective econ, industrial and trade policies. can employ lobbyists and donate.
-size- large groups represent public so gov listens due to electoral impact. and because of this tend to be wealthy.
-organisation and leadership- brings political skill, political contacts, developed media and presentational skills, high profile.
-compatibility- more likely to succeed if the gov is sympathetic to the cause.
-popular support

Question 21

negatives of why some groups are successful? pg 8

Answer 21

-wealth-matters less in the modern world with the internet to express opinions.
-size-cant compensate for insider status, small groups can influence through expertise, density and extent of membership within a group may be more important than size.
-organisation- and leadership can only go so far when a pressure group finds itself in opposition to gov they are unlikely to succeed.
-compatibility with gov- can still mobilise public opinion and influence policy over time.
-popular support- public support is not always reflected in political influence

Question 22

who is just stop oil?

Answer 22

-Just Stop Oil are an environmental activist group who were formed after Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain. Organisers from both these causes got together to create the protesting group which has conducted movements such as football pitch invasions, street protests and causing disruption at oil terminals.
-Oct 2022, started a months-long protest in London. Throughout the period members blocked roads and bridges in London, including Islington, Abbey Road, High Holborn/Kingsway, four bridges across the Thames, Westminster, as well as the M25 motorway.
-vowed to march everyday until the King’s coronation, started March 1 disrupting London.

Question 23

who is liberty?

Answer 23

-1934, one of UK’s largest civil liberties organisations, 10,500 members and campaigns for everyone in the UK to be treated fairly by challenging injustices and defending freedoms - 2018 european court of human rights ruled the bulk of interception of communications violated article 8 and 10.

Question 24

what are the functions of pressure groups?

Answer 24

-representation
-political participation
-education
-policy formation
-policy implementation

Question 25

who are the centre for policy study?

Answer 25

-UK’s leading centre right think tank
-mission is to develop a new generation of conservative thinking, centred around pushing enterprise, ownership and property.
-has significant in shaping many policies especially during the thatcher years

Question 26

what are the benefits of think tanks?

Answer 26

-widen the political debate and add to the pluralism of the UK’s democracy.
-offer specialist expertise and advice to ministers that ministers and departments may not have which results in stronger policy formulation and outcomes.
-they are independent of government.

Question 27

what are the drawbacks of think tanks?

Answer 27

-they provide partial information based on the political agenda of the think tank.
-they are not internally democratic and may project the views of their leadership rather than the organisation as a whole.
-they are a poor substitute for real academic research, they produce work that is lower quality than universities working on the same issues.

Question 28

example of lobbying?

Answer 28

-David Cameron 2021, lobbied his former colleagues because he wanted an economic scheme for Greenmill.
-but sent text messages instead of doing it formally.

Question 29

arguments for pressure groups making a positive contribution to democracy?

Answer 29

-Alternative source of information for ministers than the
civil service (who may have own agenda)
-Help to lessen the impact of ‘participation crisis’ (all
those memberships!)
-Hold govt to account and limit their power
-Ensure govt listen and provide mechanism for political
stability
-Often deal with issues politicians ignore
-Provide outlet for public grievance and anger ‘tension
release’.

Question 30

arguments that pressure groups undermine democracy?

Answer 30

-Groups are narrow focused whilst govt must take bigger picture
-Groups unaccountable and often unelected themselves (+ chequebook memberships)
-Undermine parliament and elected officials
-Makes governing harder undermines mandate
-Over-powerful minorities
-Leaders of groups may be elitist and not reflect views of members
-Groups increasingly resorting to civil
disobedience which threaten order and stability of society (outsider groups)

Question 31

what action is Braverman trying to pass to stop marches?

Answer 31

-Public Order Bill 2023,
-26th April passed through the Lords