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50 Cards in this Set
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What are the features of a pressure group? |
1) Aim to influence policy making in a field that concerns them 2) They are a group of people that are either united by a common cause or shared interest, including their employment 3) They do NOT seek to achieve political power through elections and instead lobby governments 4) They can be classified as insider/outsider and cause/interest |
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What is an insider group? + Examples |
Insider pressure groups are those that are closely associated with government and are regularly consulted by the government on key issues, often sitting on government policy committees or select committees. They can be subdivided three ways: 1) Hugh Profile - Groups that operate both behind the scenes but also through mass media - BMA, CBI 2) Low Profile - Concentrate on developing contacts in the government only - Howard League for Prisoner reform 3) Prisoner - This NEED the government as the govt. made them like quangos - National Consumer Council |
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What is an outsider group? + Examples |
Groups with no links to government, either through choice or not, aiming to influence policy through the public and media. They can be subdivided three ways: 1) Potential insider - Groups that desire to become insider - The Countryside Alliance 2) Outsider by necessity - Lack the political knowledge and skills to become insider 3) Ideological - Groups that are so radical they will not be compatible with govt. - Stop the War, CND |
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How do pressure groups differ/not from parties? |
1) They are the two main bodies that channel public attitude to govt., both facilitating representation and participation and contribute to policy making 2) Pressure groups are typically more one issue than political parties that provide a whole manifesto on all issues 3) Pressure groups do not put themselves forward for any kind of election, if they do then they are a party, pressure groups are unelected |
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Why are parties and pressure groups confused? |
1) Some political parties appear more like pressure groups - the BNP is essentially a 'one policy party' with their key aim to stop immigration whilst the Green party still places great emphasis on climate change etc 2) Some pressure groups use elections as a way of gaining media attention despite a knowledge that they will not win any representation - the Cannabis is safer than alcohol party stood in 2015 in 32 constituencies and won less than 1.5% of the vote in it's best constituency 3) Both Parties and groups can be part of a 'social movement', something far less organised - The labour movement encompasses both the Labour Party and the Trades Unions |
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What are causal pressure groups? + Examples |
These are pressure groups united by a common cause based on shared attitudes not the interests of members, with causes stretching from stopping road building to human rights. They have 1) Open membership 2) An ideal to advance a cause or principles 3) Membership is motivated by moral or altruistic causes to seek betterement RSPB, Amnesty International groups can be called 'NGOs' (Non government organizations |
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What are sectional groups? + Examples |
These are groups who represent particular sections of society, from workers to ethnic groups and religions etc. They have 1) Closed membership, only those they represent 2) The seek to advance or protect their members 3) The members are motivated by material self-interest BMA, NUT |
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Why might a group be outsider? |
1) It is denied by governmment, so they are forced to have to 'go public' - this denial is a sign of weakness 2) Through choice - Many do not want to become'domesticated' or too close to government, often to attract supporters and make them activists - These groups can become closely associated to the 'new' politics of the 20th and 21st century like the women equality protests, make pverty history etc. |
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Why is the insider/outsider line blurred? |
1) It changes over time - Government will frequently consult some groups on particular issues at the time before being ignored at others - the TUC was insider until 1979 and then semi came back in 1997 2) Insider groups are on a spectrum, some more than others - even Greenpeace will be consulted by ministers sometimes 3) Many employ both - High profile insider groups can use public support too to further their point |
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What are the functions of a pressure group? |
1) Representation 2) Political participation 3) Education 4) Policy formulation 5) Policy implementation |
REPPP |
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Define representation as a feature pressure groups |
1) They offer a mouthpiece for groups and individuals not adequately represented in parliament 2) Whilst parties attempt to please everyone, groups can focus on the specific issues/causes 3) Some say that the groups actually provide another form of representation known as 'functional representation' that's more informal BUT - Groups themselves are not very democratic - The influence of groups does not correlate to size or support |
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Define participation as a feature of pressure groups |
1) 40-50% of UK citizens belong to a voluntary association, with 20% belonging to more than one 2) Many groups have allowed participation though a wider use of petitions, marches, demonstartions etc, particularly appealing to the young BUT - Group membership doesn't always equal participation, many are merely 'chequebook groups' whose members just pay up, like the National trust |
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Define educationas a feature of pressure groups |
1) Much of public knowledge about politics stems from groups informing them - groups like 38 degrees who always run online campaigns to inform the public through social media 2) Groups want to communicate so will dedicate lots of resources to research, comment, maintaining websites etc to create 'expert authority' BUT - The pressure groups are every bit as biased as parties and there are little checks to limit what they say |
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Define policy formulationas a feature of pressure groups |
1)Many groups although not making policy are often called upon by govt to provide vital information, often consulted in policy forums, especially as govt makes more and more policy through policy networks BUT - Only a small set of insider groups have this privilege - The groups are not elected and thus cannot be held accountable |
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Define policy implementationas a feature of pressure groups |
1) Some pressure groups are involved in putting policy into practice, like the NFU works with DEFRA to implement policies about disease control, animal welfare etc 2) This gives some groups actual involvement and thus leverage over policy content BUT - Some groups are thus 'too' close to govt and thus endanger independence - It gives some groups an unfair political leverage |
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What are the main ways a pressure grouup can exert influence? |
1) Ministers & Civil Servants 2) Parliament 3) Political parties 4) Public opinion 5) Direct Action |
MPPPD |
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How can pressure groups use Ministers & Civil servants to exert influence? |
1) The quickest way is through ministers as they form the 'core executive' of power and can make the changes 2) Governments will consult groups becasue - They want advice and specialised knowledge - The desire the co-operation of the groups - The need to guage the groups opinion about something 3) Many groups like the CBI on business issues and BMA on health issues are frequently consulted 4) This can consist of formal and informal meetings with ministers and behind-the-scenes meetings with civil servants and being members of policy committees |
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How can pressure groups use parliament to exert influence? |
1) Although less ideal than ministers, changes can be made to the detail of legislation or the level of profile it has 2) This can be lobbying well placed and sympathetic MPs or Lords in select committees, private members bills and using them to ask questions in parliament 3) This has grown due to - More independent backbenchers - Introduction of departmental select committees - Growing use of professional lobbyists - A more assertive House of Lords |
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How can pressure groups use parties to exert influence? |
1) If a pressure group develops links with a political party then when that party gets into power they can affect policy 2) The most frequent way they support the party is through donations and funding - The TUC used to give large sums of money to the Labour Party to get them into power and could hold nearly all power at conference 3) Nowadays they rely more on businesses and individuals and in 2000 party funding rules changed to force parties to disclose their funding |
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How can pressure groups use public opinion to exert influence? |
1) By connecting with the public, they can indirectly push an issue up the political agenda by showing the level of public support for an issue and demonstrate to the government the electoral damage that could be inflicted if ignored 2) They can frequently do this by creating petitions, marches, demonstrations etc. often with the main aim of gaining media attention 3) Many protests can have little direct impact but more indirect - the 1990 poll tax demonstrations brought about the downfall of Thatcher 4) Frequently it is the 'informed classes' that are targeted, the professional bodies and specialist media as these are the people best placed to affect government policy |
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How can pressure groups use direct action to exert influence? |
1) These aim to create inconvenience, sit-ins, blockades, boycotts etc, often legal so civilly disobedient 2) This can be passive like a sit-in to using violence, much like how the SHAC has routinely damaged the institutes complicit in animal cruelty |
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What are the types of success for pressure groups? |
1) Affecting government policy - policy making power 2) Pushing an issue up the agenda - agenda setting power 3) Changing people's perceptions - ideological power |
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What is pluralism? |
The notion that power is held by small groups representing the people and these groups have a lot of influence and affect the way policy is made 2) The back and forth between them and govt is what makes policy 3) The groups work to protect minorities and will mediate and compromise 4) They believe that their weight forces government to listen to them and be responsive to the people |
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What is elitism? |
1) The idea that power is held at the top by a privileged few, a small group of powerful individuals and groups 2) This can extend to the notion of a 'New World Order', with influence behind the scenes 3) These groups will, therefore, not want to give up their position |
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What is Neo-pluralism? |
This is an acceptance tat some groups are more powerful and have a greater say than others but sees the greater use of e-petitions and technology to organise unplanned direct action as a way for the people to express themselves easier and thus society is ultimately pluralist |
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What evidence is there for a pluralist society? |
1) Some outsider groups have influenced policy against the governments perceived will, for example the closing of Kingsnorth Power station in 2007 by Greenpeace - frequently down to the changing society 2) One of the two main political parties is supported by a pressure group (The TUC) representing 7m workers 3) No groups cannot be overruled, the CBI, a powerful group has still been overruled about Heathrow airport 4) There is clear opposition between pressure groups, the RSPCA openly opposes the Countryside Alliance 5) Online petitions do get debated and thus it is constitutionally possible for an unpopular group with government to get their say |
NOLIE |
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What evidence is there for an elitist society? |
1) Groups that give large amounts to political parties appear to have the most say - the CBI gives large sums of money to both major political parties and is constantly 'insider' 2) The existence of 'insider' and 'outsider' suggests a clear division of power 3) Governments do already have their own agendas and manifesto pledges, Tony Blair forced through the minimum wage, despite protestations from the CBI, whilst government will rarely listen to them on issues like war 4) Information is restricted and those who have greater access to that information will be more powerful, so those consulted by govt like the BMA are better placed to lobby 5) E-Petitions change nothing - in 2015, 14 were debated but none served to change any government policy |
MIGIE |
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What are the factors affecting a pressure groups 'success'? |
1) Wealth 2) Size 3) Organisation and leadership 4) Government's views 5) Popular support 6) Effectiveness of opposition |
GO PLOWS |
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How does 'Wealth' affect a pressure groups success? |
1) Governments tend to listen to groups that have more 'economic influence' - They are wealthy. This is because groups like Tesco, the CBI etc - Provide employment and investment and all governments need to keep that on board - Possess knowledge essential to the formulation of economic policy - The possess the financial strength to hire lobbyists - High public profile with links to the media 2) In 2010, half of the conservatives donations came from the city to stop any financial regulation |
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How does 'Size'affect a pressure groups success? |
1) A Large membership has several advantages - They can claim to represent the general public opinion and govt. knows if they don't listen that can have an electoral impact so the RSPB and NSPCC constantly have memberships over 1m - More members leads to more membership fees and thus more money to hire professional lobbyists - Large memberships can organise large political campaigns and protests - CND for example uses it's number of members to turn up to marches 2) BUT size ≠ power: The CBI, a small select group is more powerful than the TUC, a group representing 7m - Many small groups with expertise are listened to more, like the Howard league for penal reform only has 3000 members - Others like the BMA have a 'concentrated membership' of doctors and are listened to more |
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How does 'organization and leadership'affect a pressure groups success? |
1) A better organised group can have more impact to take concerted action - Teachers are easier to organise than students, doctors than patients so cause groups are far harder to organise than interest groups 2) Many have key leaders too, bringing key advantages - Acute political skills, they know who to talk to and how the process works - Political contacts to affect change - Developed media and presentation skills - A High public profile can attract attention I.E Elton John attracting awareness for AIDS |
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How do the 'Views of the Government' affect a pressure groups success? |
1) Groups are far more likely to succeed when the government broadly supports them and rarely if they don't - Traditionally the TUC was more successful under Labour governments and the CBI and business under Conservatives - The banning of fox hunting with dogs was under a 'sympathetic' Labour government |
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How does 'Public Support'affect a pressure groups success? |
1) Those who are more popular will generally be listened to more as the govt tries to avoid an electoral slaughter - The snowdrop campaign was far more successful in its aim to ban handguns after the 1996 Dunblane school shooting 2) However, this isn't always the case, where the Stop the Iraq war march in 2003 had over 1m attendees and had no impact |
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How does the 'Effectiveness of Opposition'affect a pressure groups success? |
1) Those groups who have very little/no opposition are often listened to - Jamie Oliver has managed to change school dinners as there were no groups who would outwardly argue for unhealthy meals - Anti-Fox Hunting groups had to struggle to get it passed due to the strength of the opposition from the countryside alliance, who still managed to alter the detail of the legislation |
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What is the evidence for the growth and for the decline of pressure groups? |
Growth - Growth of promotional groups - More Access points - Globalization Decline - End of Corporatism - Decline in meaningful participation |
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How has a growth of promotional groups led to the growth of pressure groups? |
1) There has a been a large increase - over half of all promotional groups have been made since 1960 and many membership overshadows that of political parties - The National Trust has 3.4m members 2) There has been a growth of 'New Politics' the notion where protest is a legitimate form of participation, particularly through cyberactivism |
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How has an increased number of access pointsled to the growth of pressure groups? |
1) Devolution has meant people can lobby the devolved assemblies 2) The Human Rights act of 1998 has allowed pressure groups to use the courts to also make their point, particularly for groups like liberty 3) The EU integration allows European bodies to be lobbied also which would overrule a nation state government, like Friends of the Earth Europe |
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How has globalizationled to the growth of pressure groups? |
1) Business groups are in a far easier position to up and move to another country so they have far more leverage over the government, strengthening them and allowing them to get lower corporation tax etc 2) Also, it has led to the creation of NGOs which can lobby internationally |
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How has the end of corporatismled to the decline of pressure groups? |
1) Pre-1980s there was a strong link between govt and the 'peak' goups like the TUC and CBI, with policy decided by a constant back and forth between these 2) Thatcher in the 1980s was very suspicious of the trades unions and thus this corporatism quickly ended, and although that ended with hr downfall, it has never returned to the level it was before |
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How has a decline in meaningful participation led to the decline of pressure groups? |
1) This suggests whilst the membership has cumulatively gone up, individual members now do less and become 'chequebook members', just willing to pay up, with little interest in activism so the political activism is constrained to a few professionals |
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How do pressure groups promote democracy? |
1) Supplement parliamentary democracy 2) Widen Political participation 3) Promote education 4) Ensure competition and debate |
PECS |
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How does 'Supplementing parliamentary democracy' promote democracy? |
Many would argue that they make up for some of the flaws in parliamentary democracy and may well have replaced parties as the main way people are involved in politics 1) They keep the government in touch with the people not at election time, forcing them to engage with the public and the views of sections of society 2) They provide a voice to minorities who are overlooked by political parties, allowing them to lobby over specific issues instead of the general direction of government decided at elections |
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How does 'Widening Political participation' promote democracy? |
1) Democracy is a system run by the people and the large increase in members of pressure groups shows that people are willing to still be involved, particularly amongst the young and unaffected who don't vote, making up for a drop in voting and party membership |
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How does 'Promoting education' promote democracy? |
1) Pressure groups create discussion and debate, creating a better informed electorate and without them the information could be highly controlled, particularly as the pressure groups challenge the conventional wisdom 2) Many groups use the increase of social media as a way to get this information across 3) The specialized knowledge of the groups also adds to the debate |
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How does 'Ensuring competition and debate' promote democracy? |
1) As groups compete against each other it ensures that no interest can dominate permanently, as one becomes more influential, another less, the theory of 'countervailing power' 2) Thus, public policy is developed by ongoing debate between rival groups |
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How do pressure groups threaten democracy? |
1) Increase political inequality 2) Exercise non legitimate power 3) Exert power 'behind the scenes' 4) Lead to the tyranny of the minorty |
PEEL |
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How does the increase of political inequality threaten democracy? |
1) The most powerful groups tend to have the most money and thus can hire better lobbyists and make temselves more popular, giving them more attention and money, keeping the power with the powerful 2) Pressure groups also will represent those who already have them money to be represented, the people the govt would listen to anyway 3) Some groups cannot be organised like the mentally ill and prisoners and thus rely on others to look out for them at best |
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How does non legitimate power threaten democracy? |
1) Pressure group leaders are unelected and therefore they cannot be held to account by the people and therefore democratically illegitimate, especially as few groups have internal democracy 2) Leaders are rarely elected by the members and even if they are the turnouts are incredibly low, leading to extremists at the top |
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How does behind the scenes influence threaten democracy? |
1) pressure groups often operate behind closed doors and thus are away from public and media scrutiny, and no-one knows how much power they actually have, what they are discussing etc, leading to them being unaccountable 2) This could be seen as diminishing parliamentary democracy, often with groups bypassing the parliament |
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How does the tyranny of the minority threaten democracy? |
Pressure groups are designed to represent minorities and therefore when minority interests trump the general mood this is an issue. 2) When direct action is involved, the government could be forced to bow to a very minority group that realistically represents a very small group, operating outside the political process |
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