Pressure Groups Essay Flashcards
1
Q
effective - relationship with government: knowledge
A
- groups campaign causes widely considered positive
- stonewall: stand against lgbt discrimination
- greenpeace: raise awareness & tackle climate change
- insider pressure groups have close working relationship with decision makers
2
Q
effective - relationship with government: evidence
A
- british medical association, represent health professionals, often invited to give evidence to committees about health related bills considered by parliament
- BMA lobbied for opt out system of organ donation
- in 2019, uk government passed organ donation, deemed consent, act
- all adults automatically assumed to be a donor unless specified otherwise
3
Q
effective - relationship with government: analysis
A
- shows the government consult BMA as they are a respected group who offer expertise to make a positive difference
4
Q
ineffective - relationship with government: knowledge
A
- pressure group influence largely dependent of government of the day (labour conservative etc)
5
Q
ineffective - relationship with government: evidence
A
- trade union campaigners wanting better workers rights, historically enjoyed ties with labour governments
- conservative governments more unsympathetic
- in 2016, trade union act law passed, making more difficult for unions to take strike action
6
Q
ineffective - relationship with government: analysis
A
- suggests influence of some pressure groups directly linked to and may change depending on what party is in power
7
Q
relationship with government: evaluation
A
- overall, pressure groups effective influencing government, seen in BMA successful lobbying for organ donation act, influence of pressure group heavily reliant on party in charge at time
8
Q
effective - organisation: knowledge
A
- larger, well resourced & organised privileged groups have ability to influence
- wealthy groups can employ professional lobbyists to work on their behalf
9
Q
effective - organisation: evidence
A
- one group representing powerful interests, confederation of british industry
- represents 200,000+ UK businesses and often consulted by government over things such as corporation tax and minimum wage rates
- CBI campaign business friendly policies, such as lower corpo tax
- UK government very responsive to demand, as corpor lowered from 30% in 2007 to 19% today
- if UK government not respond positively to demand, CBI can advise businesses to leave UK
10
Q
effective - organisation: analysis
A
- some feel this threatens democracy as well funded groups can get their way and buy access to Government and changes in policy
- government may feel forced to appease CBI, but this reduces tax intake and the ability of Government to provide public services
- showing professional lobbying by powerful groups corrupts political process
11
Q
ineffective - organisation: knowledge
A
- smaller, less well resourced & less privileged groups cannot influence in the same way
12
Q
ineffective - organisation: evidence
A
- e.g. outside group Republic campaign for abolition of monarchy, but according to 2018 YouGov poll, 69% brits support monarch compared to 21% who oppose
- shows little appetite for the aim of Republic, therefore considered unsuccessful
- was seen during protests after King Charles III ascended throne where protestors held signs with #abolishthemonarchy
- general public showed little sympathy when protestors arrested
- major newspapers in UK also tend to be pro monarchy, and pressure groups have more influence when they have media backing
13
Q
ineffective - organisation: analysis
A
- generating media publicity not enough, must be positive media publicity
- republic lack this, causing them to have limited appeal
14
Q
organisation: evaluation
A
- overall, can be strongly argued, in order for pressure group to effectively influence government, must be well funded & organised, such as CBI
