UK ST3: Citizens Flashcards
intro
Some would argue that the most effective way for citizens to influence the government’s (gov.) decisions is by responding to gov. consultations. However, it can be argued that starting or signing petitions and joining a pressure group are also effective methods. Ultimately, this response will demonstrate why starting or signing a petition is perhaps the most influential method available to citizens.
para 1 KU
One way that individuals can influence gov. decision making is by starting or signing petitions. This is something that is commonly started by individuals or groups to demand that the gov. take action. The more people that sign a petition, the more influential the petition could be as the gov. might feel that they may upset the people who signed the petition.
para 1 example
For example, following the petition to tackle hunger in school holidays in 2020 by Marcus Rashford that got over 1 million signatures, the UK gov. introduced more food support for poorer students in England.
para 1 A
This is effective at influencing gov. decision making because if a petition becomes extremely popular/gains a lot of signatures, the gov. will have to think carefully before they reject it since it would likely garner a lot of media attention, which might upset the public and lead to them not voting for the governing party in future elections.
para 1 gov. can ignore KU
However, it is only partially effective at influencing gov. decision making as the gov. can ignore petitions. This is because the gov. may find that the people supporting a petition may not be supporters of their political party and so feel no need to respond to the petition.
para 1 - gov. can ignore example
For example, one of the biggest petitions in UK history has been to cancel Brexit and remain in the EU, gaining over 6 million signatures in 2019. As the Conservatives party leadership has been supportive of Brexit they chose to ignore the petition and still won the 2019 election, suggesting they weren’t harmed by ignoring the petition.
para 1 E
Overall, petitions are the most successful method available to citizens as petitions raise public awareness of issues and signifies public opinion to the gov. which then influences the decisions they make as if they upset the public by not listening to their demands they will likely lose supporters, and therefore voters, which means they won’t win the next election, which they don’t want.
para 2 - KU
Another way that individuals can influence gov. decision making is by joining a pressure group. This is a group of citizens who specifically gather together to influence and achieve change. Pressure groups try to put pressure onto the gov. to implement their demands through a variety of different methods, such as media campaigns and large scale protests in the street. They can also participate in lobbying the gov. and communicating with gov. officials like MPs, MSPs and Ministers.
para 2 - example
For example, although it has since been delayed, in August 2024, the pressure group Surfers Against Sweage (SAS) managed to persuade the Scottish gov. to make Scotland the first country in the UK to introduce a bottle deposit scheme to help tackle environmental damage.
para 2 A
This shows that pressure groups are effective influecing gov. decision making because pressure groups can also take their issue to the public in an effort to spread their message and gain their support, which then puts pressure on the gov. since they’ll always be mindful of public opinion, especially when it changes drastically.
para 1 not all successful Ku
However, it’s only partly effective at influencing gov. decision making because not all pressure groups have success. This is because if the issue the pressure group is campaigning for is one that the gov. is against, it can be extremely difficult to influence the gov. to change their minds no matter the amount of different methods they use.
para 2 not all successful example
For example, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) has been protesting outside nuclear submarine base Faslane for almsot 40 years but the UK gov. has remained commited to havign nuclear weapons. In 2024, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his commitment to nuclear weapons was ‘unshakeable.’
para 2 E
Overall, pressure groups aren’t as effective as petitions because if pressure groups don’t have sufficient funding or support from influential politicians then it is unlikely that they will manage to create change for their cause. Also, if pressure group tactics target the public (e.g blocking roads) then it is also unlikely that they will manage to garner public support which also makes it unlikely that they will manage to make change. Whereas, petitions are generally more supported by the public because they don’t interrupt their daily lives and they are also a more easy/simple way for citizens to get involved in politics as they simply have to sign the petition and share it if they want, they don’t have to give up any more time than that.
para 3 KU
One way that individuals can influence gov. decision making is by responding to gov. consultations. This is when the gov. will gather the views of citizens on proposed change. The more responses received the more likely that the gov. may be influenced by citizen’s feelings. The response it receives from citizens can especially influence the choices the gov. makes if the response indicates that a specific issue might be popular or controversial.
para 3 example
For example, in 2023 the Scottish gov, opened a consultation on Scottish education, asking for views on their proposals to replace the SQA. The consultation showed a general agreement on the need for a new qualifications body. On June 4th 2024, the Scottish Gov. introduce the Education (Scotland) Bill which seeks to create a new body called Qualifications Scotland.
para 3 A
This is effective as the gov. can consult on an issue they worry may upset the public and if the policy is then supported, the gov. is more likely to introduce it and are able to argue that the public wanted it.
para 3 can have no influence KU
However, citizens views can have no influence on the gov. This is because although the gov. might issue a consultation, it doesn’t mean they have to accept the responses they receive or act on them. A gov. might consult to make it look like it takes citizens views into account, but in actuality it may have already made up its mind on the issue.
para 3 can have no influence example
For example, the Scottish gov. consulted in early 2020 about inrdocuing tougher rules for non-cosmetic surgery, like lip fillers. It took 2 years for the gov to reespond and by 2023 had take no further action.
para 3 E
Overall, consultations are not as effective as petitions as there are more people backing petitions than there are in concsultations, meaning that petitions better convey the mass of people that support and issue than consultations do.
conclusion
As set out above, joining a pressure group and consultations are effective ways of influencing gov. decision making. Joining a pressure group is effective as pressure groups can take their issue to the public to spread their message and gain their support. Consultations are effective as the gov. can consult on an issue they think may upset the public. If the policy is then supported, the gov. is more likely to introduce it and are able to argue that the public wanted it. However, as argued, petitions are the most effective way to influence gov. decision making as petitions raise public awareness of issues and signifies public opinion to the gov. which then influences the decisions they make as if they upset the public by not listening to their demands they will likely lose supporters, and therefore voters, which means they won’t win the next election, which they don’t want
