ways in which citizens can influence government decision making, including pressure groups Flashcards
P- Many citizens join pressure groups in order to participate in the political system.
E - One main way pressure groups influence decision makers is through INSIDER GROUPS. Insider groups have the support and attention of the government, and the government will often approach them for advice and have long standing and regular discussions
Example?
- For example, in 2019 after providing evidence to the government’s Low Pay Commission, the CBI were successful in limiting an increase in the Living Wage to £8.67 per hour rather than the £9.35 proposed by the government
PRESSURE GROUPS - INSIDER GROUPS
R- However, Insider groups are only trying to persuade the government and the Government does not have to listen to them
Example?
- For example, the CBI campaigned against leaving the EU, warning that a no deal Brexit could cost the UK economy £100bn and one million jobs. Despite this Boris Johnson’s 2019 election campaign was focused on ‘Getting Brexit Done’
PETITIONS
P - Citizens can influence government decision making through the use of petitions.
e - The public can sign petitions online through e-petitions on the parliament’s website. These allow citizens to petition the House of Commons and push for action from the government.
example?
A- Shows support for a cause, trump will know he is vastly unwelcome
e - If a petition receives 10,000 signatures, it will get
a response from Government, and if it receives 100,000 signatures it will be considered for debate in Parliament. An example of a petition would be when more than 1 million people signed a petition calling for President Trump’s invitation for his first official state visit in 2017 to the UK to be revoked
PETITIONS
R - However petitions rarely lead to changes in the law.
E - Although petitions garner attention for a cause by showing the widespread support, they are not very effective in meaningfully influencing government decision making as it is rare they lead to actual changes in the law.
example?
e - There was a petition to give the meningitis B vaccine to all children, not just newborn babies, that got over 800 thousand signatures, that was debated but the outcome unsuccessful.
