Topic 2- Pressure Groups

Question 1

Pressure group

Answer 1

A group of like-minded individuals who come together on the basis of shared interests or a commonly held cause in order to put pressure on policymakers at Westminster and beyond

Question 2

Single-issue group

Answer 2

A pressure group or protest movement that focuses on a single issue as opposed to a range of issues underpinned by a broader set of guiding principles or an ideology. They may be disband once their central objective is achieved.

Question 3

New Pressure Group Politics

Answer 3

Characterising the rise of more loosely organised social movements, protest movements, direct action campaign and grassroots activities. It is distinct from the more tightly organised and choreographed pressure group activity of earlier decades

Question 4

Trustee Model

Answer 4

The Burkean model of representation provided for in a representative democracy. Politicians are returned to office on the understanding that they are free to use their judgement in the interests of their whole constituents and the nation as a whole.

Question 5

Cause groups

Answer 5

May be referred to as promotional groups or public interest groups which promote approaches, issues or ideas that are not of direct benefit to group members

Question 6

Attitude cause groups

Answer 6

A group that seeks to change people’s attitude on a particular issue (Greenpeace)

Question 7

Political cause groups

Answer 7

A group that campaigns in pursuit of a cause that is essentially political in nature (unlockdemocracy)

Question 8

Sectional cause groups

Answer 8

A group that represents a specific section of society that is distinct from its own membership (NSPCC)

Question 9

Insider groups

Answer 9

Groups that enjoy closer and more positive relationships with those in government. They have a particularly strong two-way relationships with policy makers across a broad range of issues

Question 10

Core insiders

Answer 10

Groups that work closely with government and are consulted regularly across a broad range of policy areas (BMA)

Question 11

Specialist insiders

Answer 11

Groups with which the government consults across only a narrow range of policies (WWF)

Question 12

Peripheral insiders

Answer 12

Groups whose areas of expertise or interest are so narrow that the government will rarely consult them (Dog’s Trust)

Question 13

Potential insiders

Answer 13

Outsider due to nature of their cause or inexperience. Governments also lack legitimacy.

Question 14

Outsiders by necessity

Answer 14

Unlikely to achieve high status and must work outside (Fathers4justice)

Question 15

Ideological outsiders

Answer 15

Groups that look to avoid establishing close working relationships with government for ideological reasons
(Amnesty International)

Question 16

Defensive group

Answer 16

Are those which seek to defend the interests of people or categories of people in society

Question 17

Campaigning groups

Answer 17

are those that seek to advance particular causes and ideas not of immediate benefit to themselves

Question 18

Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-59)

Answer 18

Liberal French aristocrat and politician who visited the US was impressed and wrote a classic book on the workings of the US political system, Democracy in America

Question 19

Civil Society

Answer 19

Arena of social life above the personal realm of the family. Mainly voluntary organisations and civil associations that allow individuals to work together in groups, freely and independent of state regulations

Question 20

Think tanks

Answer 20

Are groups formed to researched and develop policy proposals. They are sometimes influential with with the parties with which they share a broad affinity

Question 21

Social movements

Answer 21

made up of large bodies of people united around a central idea of continuing significance whose goal is to change attitudes or institutions, not just policies

Question 22

New social movements

Answer 22

Movements have emerged since 1960s in order to influence public policy on issues such as the environment, nuclear, energy oe peace and women;s,

Question 23

Peak or umbrella organisations

Answer 23

Coordinate and represent the broad activities and interests of business or labour such as the CBI and TUC. Their members are not individuals they are other bodies such as firms, trade associations or labour unions

Question 24

Single issue

Answer 24

Groups concentrate their attention on the achievement of one specific objective such as banning abortions

Question 25

Lobby

Answer 25

A group of people who represent a particular interest or cause. The lobby normally refers to all of those groups that seek to influence public policy

Question 26

Lobbying

Answer 26

Practice of meeting with elected representatives to persuade them of the merits of the case you wish to advance

Question 27

Lobbyists

Answer 27

are therefore employees of associations who try to influence policy decisions especially in the Executive and legislative branches of government

Question 28

Direct action

Answer 28

Any action beyond usual constitutional and legal framework, such as obstructing access to a building or the building of a motorway.

Question 29

Fathers4Justice

Answer 29

Direct action father’s rights group, formed to campaign on behalf of fathers who claim to have suffered injustice in the quagmire of divorce proceedings and feel that the legal system is stacked against them

Question 30

Plane stupid

Answer 30

Direct action climate group that has emerged from the new wave of radical green activism seen in Britain recently.

Question 31

Multi-level governance

Answer 31

Relates to the multiple layering of government and describes the way in which the British political system operates today. There are various tiers f government with the EU at the top, then the UK government, devolved bodies and local administration plus many unelected bodies that exercise considerable power

Question 32

Pluralists

Answer 32

Believe that there is a political marketplace in which ideas can be traded and group ideas can flourish. Natural and desribale