Pressure Groups Examples Flashcards
Example of pressure groups operating on a relatively narrow range of issues
Plane Stupid 2005
Justice for Gurkhas 2010
Example of pressure groups operating in law courts successfully
February 2012 (Supreme Court) Ravat versus Haliburton - Trade Unions brought a claim that protection from unfair dismissal extended to British workers employed overseas. This appeal was successful
Example of pressure groups helping individual MPs or peers who are trying to promote private members’ legislation
Groups from the music industry supported action in the HoL which led to the Live Music Act in 2012, making it easier for music to be licensed for small venues
Example of pressure groups playing a key part in the governing process
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) help to shape agricultural policy
Example of pressure groups carrying out the function of representation
Age UK representing the interests of the elderly (functional representation)
Example of pressure groups providing a less intensive but more relevant opportunity for political participation
Taxpayers’ Alliance organise online petitions
Example of pressure groups scrutinising legislative and policy proposals, suggesting how they may be improved or amended
Medical groups such as the British Medical Association and Royal College of Nursing have helped to shape NHS reform
Example of pressure groups educating and informing the public about politically important issues
Electoral Reform Society
Friends of the Earth publicise environmental issues
Example of a pressure group that put up candidates for election despite not seeking power
2017 - Animals Count
Example of a single-issue party
UKIP
Green
BNP - Anti-immigration
Example of pressure groups that are very closely associated with parties
Unlock Democracy and the Lib Dems
Example of a pressure group only having to look at one side of an issue (not having to take full responsibility) for all the policies that they propose
Greenpeace campaigns against trials of GM foods. However, there are also great potential benefits in GM foods, such as long-term solutions to poverty in some developing countries
(Governments meanwhile, would have to weigh up the benefits of GM foods against the possible problems)
Example of pressure groups having narrower concerns than parties
ASH - Won’t have any views on foreign policy
Another example of pressure groups not having to be accountable
ASH successfully campaigned for a smoking ban in public places, did not have to be responsible for the loss of govt. revenue
Examples of sectional / interest groups
Trade unions Institute of Directors (employers in general) Taxpayers' Alliance Age UK National Farmers' Union Engineering Employers' Federation Multiple Sclerosis Society Heart Foundation
Examples of cause / issue / promotional groups
Greenpeace Friends of the Earth Royal Society for the Protection of Birds National Trust Electoral Reform Society Liberty (for civil liberties)
Examples of environmental groups
Greenpeace
Friends of the Earth
Examples of British environment groups
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
National Trust
Examples of pressure groups that campaign for changes in the political system
Electoral Reform Society
Liberty
Example of dual-function groups
Countryside Alliance - Represents people in rural areas, but also campaigns for better countryside which can benefit everyone
Campaign for Better Transport - Believes that better public transport is an issue that affects us all, but it also represents existing users of such transport
Cancer Research
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)
Example of short term pressure groups
Anti Poll Tax Federation - Campaigned against the unpopular local poll tax in 1989-90
Example of a pressure group which moves between being an insider and an outsider pressure group
A conservative government would normally consult regularly with Liberty, the human rights pressure group, but the Lib Dems viewed them as insiders in the coalition
Example of an insider pressure group that the govt. receives information from
The Confederation of British Industry regularly produces reports on how businesses are operating and what it’s attitudes are towards such issues as business tax
Example of pressure groups with permanent seats on govt. policy committees and agencies and why this is beneficial for the govt.
National Farmers’ Union
It is advantageous to govt. that all agricultural policy should be considered by representatives of the farming community
Example of pressure group that has actually been set up by the govt. itself and may be funded by taxpayers’ money (They are almost part of govt., not just insiders)
Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) - Was set up in 2006 to advise govt. on equality
Office of Fair Trading is another example of an ‘ultra insider’ group
What sort of insider pressure groups risk being too close to the govt. and losing independence
Environmental groups and trade unions
Example of a pressure group which would rather have outsider status in order to be independent
Greenpeace - Feels it can make more of an impact by remaining as outsiders e.g. disrupting international conferences
Example of an aspiring insider pressure group
Association of British Drivers - Was faced with an unsympathetic Labour Govt.
Example of pressure groups that lost their insider status
Trade unions under Thatcher
What sort of conference would the pressure groups concentrate on
G7 summit or World Trade Organisation meetings
Example of insider promotional/issue pressure groups
ASH
Shelter (homelessness)
Example of outsider promotional/issue pressure group
Greenpeace
Example of insider sectional pressure group
Age UK
British Medical Association
Confederation of British Industry
British Film Council
Example of outsider dual-function pressure group
Campaign for better transport
New social movements (Have to be outsider)
Occupy movement
Plane stupid
Unsuccessful pressure groups despite having large support
NUS demonstrations in London in 2010-11
Countryside alliance march in 2005
Example of pressure group that has alienated the public through violence
PETA and ALF have been involved in violent protests
Example of govt. resisting a campaign
NUS protests 2010
Example of a sectional outsider pressure group
National Union of Teachers
Example of a pressure group that has been successful despite being small and having few resources
Gurkha Justice Campaign
Example of pressure groups representing the electorate
The AA represents the interests of motorists
Example of pressure groups encouraging participation
38 degrees makes it simple for people to participate in a wide variety of campaigns
Example of successful 38 degrees campaigns
Over 100,000 signed a petition arguing against removal of teaching assistants
Example of pressure groups representing minority interests
Health groups such as the Multiple Sclerosis Society
Example of pressure groups ensuring dispersal of power
Age UK
Example of pressure groups having a disproportionate influence
National Farmers Union have a disproportionate influence because they are vital to society
Example of pressure groups having unfair access to money
British Bankers Association
Example of pressure groups having unfair influence due to size
Countryside alliance put an estimated 300,000 on the streets to protest the ban on hunting dogs and other issues - panicked govt. into action
Example of elitist pressure groups
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) - Concentrate power in the hands of a few
Example of pressure group lacking internal democracy
Trade Union leaders before democratic reforms in the 1980s
Example of pressure groups having unfair access to money
British Bankers Association
Example of pressure group using lobbying
The welfare reform legislation of 2011-12 was the subject of intense lobbying from interest groups
Example of pressure group using direct action
Fathers 4 justice dressed up as ‘super-heroes’
Anti-fuel tax lobby blockaded fuel depots in order to publicise its case for lower petrol taxes
Animal Liberation Front - Frees animals from experimentation laboratories
Example of pressure groups mobilising public opinion
Age UK - Powerful pressure group which led to rebates on council tax on the elderly
Example of pressure group having a similar philosophy to parties and therefore being successful
Taxpayers’ alliance in 2010 led to Welfare Reform Act 2012
Example of pressure group with financial power
British Bankers Association
Example of pressure groups with great size
Age UK (200,000) as well as high voter turnout (usually 70-80%)
Example of a well organised pressure group
Countryside Alliance, Plane Stupid, Occupy, Greenpeace - All been successful because they’ve been well led and have captured the imagination of the public and media
Example of pressure groups with opposition pressure groups
ASH vs FOREST
Countryside Alliance - Anti-hunting lobby
Airline industry - Plane Stupid / environmental groups
Example of pressure group with celebrity involvement
Joanna Lumley - Gurkha Justice Campaign
Example of a growing pressure group
Taxpayers’ alliance 18,000 members in 2008 –> 55,00 by 2010
In 2010, how many lobbyists where attached to the EU
4,400
Example of a pressure group helped by the Human Rights Act
Liberty - By applying to courts, a minority group may be able to seek a judgement that protects it from oppressive legislation
Examples of the House of Lords amending legislation for pressure groups
2012 Health and Social Care Act, many of which were designed to protect groups such as patients and health service employees
Equality Act - Christian churches allowed to be excluded from laws against preventing gay marriage
Unsuccessful pressure group with wealth
Trade unions
Example of a European pressure group
Friends of the Earth Europe
Successful pressure groups
ASH - Smoking ban in public places
Gurkha Justice Campaign - Gurkhas who retired after 1997 allowed to settle in the UK
Taxpayers’ alliance in 2010 led to Welfare Reform Act 2012
Plane Stupid - London Stansted Airport withdrew plans for a second runway un 2010
Unsuccessful pressure groups
NUS - Tuition fees still rose
Countryside alliance march, 2005 - Hunting was banned
Example of an unsuccessful insider pressure group
National Farmes’ Union wanted to stay in the EU
Example of a successful insider pressure group
ASH - Smoking ban in public places
Example of a successful outsider pressure group
Greenpeace - The adoption of a ban on toxic waste exports to less developed countries
Example of an unsuccessful outsider pressure group
NUS
FOREST
Example of pressure groups operating in law courts successfully
Nov. 2009 (Supreme Court) - Office of Fair Trading vs Barclays Bank and others. British Bankers Association successfully overturned a ruling that the Office of Fair Trading could investigate their system of charging customers
