Pressure Groups Guide Flashcards
What are pressure groups?
Pressure groups use various forms of advocacy/lobbying to influence public opinion and policy.
What impact do pressure groups have?
Pressure groups play an important role in the development of political and social systems and highlight issues the Government aren’t always focused on.
How does Government views influence the success of pressure groups?
Pressure groups are more successful when their campaigns are aligned with Government views.
Why does Government views influence the success of pressure groups?
A pressure groups’ success depends on the governing party and what their views and priorities are as they may be ignored if they do not align.
When was the Taxpayers Alliance most successful?
The Taxpayers Alliance was most successful in influence when the Conservatives were in power.
How may a pressure groups success differ in Scotland?
Pressure groups may have differing success in Scotland due to different views of the Scottish Parliament and their elected party.
Why may a pressure groups success differ in Scotland?
A pressure groups’ success in Scotland may be limited as some powers in Scotland are reserved and so cannot be changed even if their views do align.
How does the Government power overturn a pressure groups success?
The Government have the power to allow issues to be ignored depending on where they want their focus to lie.
How does public opinion influence the success of pressure groups?
Having the support of the public can influence the success of a pressure group.
Why does public opinion influence the success of pressure groups?
The Government must consider the damage to their reputation and support if they ignore a pressure group with lots of public support.
How does public opinion challenge the success of pressure groups?
The opinion of the public changes over time and so it is difficult for a pressure group to maintain success for a prolonged period of time.
Why did FOREST lose public support?
ASH is a pressure group against smoking whilst FOREST was for smokers rights but they lost support due to the public becoming more anti-smoking.
How important is public opinion to a pressure groups’ success?
The public evolves and changes and so it is difficult to keep everlasting support and so although the publics support is vital, pressure groups must also change their aims to keep this.
How do corporate interests influence the success of pressure groups?
Pressure groups will achieve more success by supporting corporation rather than the disadvantaged in society.
When did the Government abandon ‘net-zero’?
In 2023, the Government abandoned their ‘net-zero’ commitment and instead announced that they would be permitting more oil and gas license for the North Sea.
How are insider groups more advantaged?
Insider groups can afford lobbyists, and seen as corporation play such a big part of the British economy, the Government will seek the help of pressure groups.
How do corporate interests prevent effective social change?
Pressure groups may support those who are already advantaged and leave the disadvantaged poorly supported meaning corporations are the priority and pressure groups don’t make progress towards effective social change.
How does media coverage influence the success of pressure groups?
The support of a pressure group can relate to the type of media coverage they get.
How did the media impact Marcus Rashford’s task force?
The Government u-turned on free school meals during school holidays due to Rashford’s task forces positive media attention.
How does negative media coverage influence the success of pressure groups?
Negative media coverage will typically decrease the support of a pressure group and lead them to be unsuccessful.
Why does negative media coverage influence the success of pressure groups?
The negative media coverage of a pressure group allows the Government to ignore the topics with ease and avoid the thought topics they may be raising.
How did negative media coverage impact Just Stop Oil?
Just Stop Oil have lots support after their negative media coverage which painted them as reckless idiots.
How can the media alter the reporting of a pressure group?
The media can alter the perspective the report from due to their own views and so they hand the reports to the public through a tinted glass.
