UK DEMOC & PARTICIPATION: PGs Flashcards
1
Q
What are outsider groups?
A
- PGs that are unable to work directly w gov & have to focus their efforts on infl public opinion (so indirect pressure can be put on gov)
2
Q
what are cause groups?
A
- PGs that promote an issue or cause that might benefit all ppl, not just the membership (therefore memberhsip is open to anyone) eg Greenpeace
3
Q
what are interest groups?
A
- PGs that aim to protect the interets of theur members- membership is usually restricted
4
Q
what are insider groups?
A
- PGs that work w the gov such as inside parliament, or through regular meetings w ministers eg NEU/ Shelter
5
Q
what is an access point?
A
- the various people and places that PGs can target to apply pressure on deision makers for their desired changes, eg the cabinet, PM, supreme court, devolved govs
6
Q
what is lobbying?
A
directly meeting decision makers eg cabinet, MPs to presuade them to back your cause or interest, comes from lobbies in hoc
7
Q
what is direct action?
A
- public getting directly involved in infl decision makers, can be legal or illegal
8
Q
what is civil disobediance?
A
form of direct action that involves a refusal to obey certain laws
9
Q
what is pluralism?
A
a system of gov where power and influence is spread across a wide variety of groups, competing fairly for power
10
Q
what is elitism?
A
a system of gov where power & infl is concentrated amongst a small, select group, such as those w the most financial resources
11
Q
what is functional representation?
A
- representing a group of pppl w shared characterisitics or views, as opp to geographical rep
12
Q
what is tyranny of the majority?
A
- a situation where a majority of ppl are able to overrule & ignore the interests of a minority of ppl
13
Q
what is tyranny of the minority?
A
- where a small minority of ppl are able to have undue infl over decisions, overriding or blocking the interests of the majority of ppl
14
Q
what are cheque-book members?
A
- PG members that pay memberhsip fees yet do not take part in any organisaion or work of the group
15
Q
what is a pressure group?
A
- organisation of ppl w a shared cause/ interest that seeks to infl policy decisions
16
Q
what are lobbyists?
A
- members of proffessional organisations who are paid by clients to gain infl w gov or MPs on heir behalf eg Retired politicians, eg DC
17
Q
what are think-tanks?
A
- groups of experts who investigate & offer solutions to political problems, offering advice to gov on the best course of action
18
Q
what is NIMBYism?
A
- oppositiopn to local projects/ orgs- beleif PGs exist to look after a small group of ppl
19
Q
what is hyper-pluralism?
A
- too many groups vying for infl- cannot function
20
Q
what is cronyism?
A
- favours for friends- eg DC
21
Q
why would the gov want to consult a PG or other collective organisations?
A
- gage the reactions of affected groups to proposed policies or measures
- expert advice/ knowledge
- desire to gain co-operation of imp groups
22
Q
for insider groups working w gov, what is their objective?
A
- to get involved in gov’s early process of policy/ decision making- easier to exert infl/ pressure here before gov has taken a public position- away from the gaze of media/ public
23
Q
why has working w ministers & civil servants argueably reduced effectiveness in recent times?
A
- power has devolved to Pa and regional assemblies
- social media more effective to exert outsider infl & create indirect pressure and raise public awareness
24
Q
when might a PG turn to parliament for their methods?
A
- when cannot gain acces to gov
- more likely to gain media coverage
- can be less infl as pa ay be dominated by gov, BUT if a minority goc eg 2010-2019 or w small majs, may be more independent- minded MPs willing to rebel/ vote against their own party- Pa more effective opton for PGs
25
how can PGs and other orgs seek to infl leg passing through parliament?
- asking MPS/ Peers to make amendments, drafting PMBs for MPs to bring forwatd, contributing thier expertise to committee reports, lobbying MPs to vote a certain
26
advantages of PGs/ orgs working w political parties?
- can result in major infl if party wins GE & forms gov
- eg TUs make large donations to lab party
27
disadvantages of PGs/ orgs working w political parties?
- if work too closely w one, can reduce infl w other parties- problematic when that party is out of power
28
how has devolution impacted the work of PGs?
- power has been moving away from central gov to devolved assemlies & parliament- impacts effectiveness of methods
- led to more wider acces points for PGs to target w labbying methods
- eg Extinction Rebellion- by 2020, over 460 councils & Sc + Welsh Pas had declared a climate emergency
29
how has devolution impacted the work of the CBI?
- considerable impact in helping an extra £3000 for small firms in Wales to access gigabit connections
- CBI= Confederation of British Industry
30
how is engaging the public used as a method of PGs?
- mainly used by outsider groups- opinion ca,paigning - to infl the gov indirectly by pushing issues up the political agenda & demonstrate the strength of committment & the level of support for a particular cause- hope gov will pay attention for fear of electoral consequences
- can org public petitions, marches, demonstrations etc
31
what is an example of mass demonstration?
- Stop the war coalition in 2003- against iraq war- may have been effective at shapingpublic opinion against military intervention in other states in the long term but failed to change decision of lab gov to go to war
32
what is an example of civil disobediance?
- EXTINXTION REBELLION; non-violent direct action challenging inaction over climate chang & mass extinction of species
- shut down majot 5 bridges in London in 2018- mass arrests of participants but effective in gaining high profile media coverage for their cause
33
how did marcus rashford exert infl?
- used modern tech to help end child food poverty
- oct 2020 launched a parl petition to end child food poverty- over 1.1million ppl signed
- used soc med to pressur egov on giving children free schl meals food vouchers in summer holidays
34
advantages of PGs using courts to challenge the gov?
- may challenge gov in cpurt if ministers/ officials haev breached their legal powers- or use court to generate media publicity
- eg 2016 ClientEarth case- an environmental law charity/ alleged gov was failing in its responsibility to tackle air pollution- PM TM was defeated in case- committed gov to taking meaningful action on the issue
35
disadvantages of PGs using courts to challenge the gov?
- costs seen as prohibitive
- may signal that a PG has failed to persuade politicians of their view points
36
what was 38 Degrees' 'save the forests' campaign?
- 750,000+ members
- demonstrate/ pamphlets/ website
- ask members what they want to focus on
- organised its campaign online- trying to raise public awareness- got members to fund media campaign
- gov leak of notion to privatise forest- they put out opinion poll on it, 84% against- so created petition- over 500,000 signatures- put indirect pressure on gov
37
how did Insulate Britain/ Just Stop Oils use civil disobediance?
- stopping in middle of roads w signs to hold back traffic
- glued hand to M4 motorway & stopped traffic
- direct action- causing huge distruption
- don't want to be seen to give in to 'mob rule'
38
what are diadvantages of direct action?
- govs unlikely to change policy based on it as may encourage more, esp civil disobediance
- + don't want to be seen to give in to 'mob rule'
39
why might it be hard to see PG success?
- some insider PGs may not want their success to become public knowledge- to have infl on gov revealed- may embarass gov
- debate abt ho power is ditributed among pressure participants
- disagreement on whether groups tend to widen distribution of power- giving power to the ppl, or whether they concentrate it- strengthening the alr powerful- portrayed as battle between pluralism & elitism
40
how much higher is 16-17 year old turnout when they can vote?
- sc indep ref- 75%, and 97% said they'd vote in next elecion
- over 955,000 11-18 y/os participated in UK youth parliament- shows engagement in pol
41
what support has been shown for VA16?
- sc cons leader Ruth Davidson changed her mind when seeing it in action- now supports it
- Lord Chancellor Lord Falcover called for a public debate on the issue as would encourage involvement in mainstream pol
- VA16 had meeting w few MPs before 2nd reading of voting age reduction bill in 2008, but it was talked down by a cons MP
- electoral commission public consoltation in 2004- 72% for it
- plans in lab's 2024 manifesto to extend it so
42
how low is 16-17 year olds' turnout in isle of man?
- as low as 46%
- BUT noted that probs in 2nd order elections
43
how does political expendiency link to VA16?
- all existing adult voters have had to wait till 18, so only fair that young ppl do the same
- so unclear when we'd start it
44
how are claims abt what 16 yearolds cand o misleading?
- eg need parents consent to marry or join the army, things like leaving schl, working up to 40 hours a week, having consensual sex, are legal but this doesn't mean theyre encouraged
