Democracy and Participation: Lobbyists, Pressure Groups, Think Tanks Flashcards

1
Q

What is pluralist democracy?

A

Political influence is dispersed among a wide variety of elected and non-elected bodies.

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2
Q

What is a pressure group?

A

A membership-based association whose aim is to influence policy making without seeking power.

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3
Q

What are some functions of pressure groups? (4)

A

-To represent interests of certain sections of the community
-To promote certain causes that haven’t been taken up by parties
-To protect the interests of minority groups
-To inform and educate the public on political issues

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4
Q

What is a sectional pressure group?

A

A pressure group that represents interests of a particular group in society.

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5
Q

What is a proportional pressure group?

A

They promote a particular issue and members can be anyone across society.

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6
Q

What is a social movement?

A

Large group of individuals/organisations that focus on social/political issues.

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7
Q

What is an insider pressure group?

A

Have a close and productive relationship with the gov.
Unlikely to use direct action or break law as this will damage their reputation.

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8
Q

What is an outsider pressure group?

A

Little or no gov contact and are not consulted on policy change.

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9
Q

How can pressure groups meet their aims?

A
  • Illegal methods to raise awareness, civil disruption
  • Make political grants to parties.
  • Media campaigns
  • celebrity endorsement
  • Access points and lobbying
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10
Q

What are access points?

A

Where pressure groups go to exert influence (Devolved Assemblies)

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11
Q

What is lobbying?

A
  • Attempt of individuals to influence gov.
  • Could be through large gatherings in Parliament or council offices.
  • Could also mean getting professional organisations to run campaigns for them.
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12
Q

What is hyper pluralism?

A

rapid growth of interest and campaign groups.

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13
Q

What factors affect the success and failures of pressure groups? (6)

A

-Size of membership
-Finance
-Public mood
-The strategic position of a particular sectional group
-The attitude of the government
-Organisation

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14
Q

What’s an example where public mood impacted the government’s decision?

A

38 degrees group
- gained half a million signatures on a petition opposing the proposal to privatise England’s forests
- the gov abandoned the proposal in 2011.

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15
Q

What is a corporation?

A

Large companies that seek to lobby the gov to encourage them to legislate or not in certain areas.

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16
Q

What is a thinktank?

A

A body of experts brought together to investigate and offer solutions to economic and social issues.

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17
Q

What is a lobbyist?

A

Someone who is paid by clients to seek to influence the government/parliament on their behalf.

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18
Q

Why is lobbying criticised?

A

Can only be accessed by wealthy
Manipulation is hidden
No regulation until 2014

19
Q

What was the first form of lobbying regulation?

A

2014 transparency act which created a statutory register of lobbyists.

20
Q

What were the faults of the 2014 lobbying administration act?

A

It was only 20% of lobbyists registered
In house lobbyists aren’t considered
Still secretive

21
Q

What are two key features of think tanks?

A
  1. Identify with a particular position
  2. Focus is mainly on influencing policy formulation than campaigning
22
Q

What are some examples of think tanks and their alignment with parties?

A

Fabian society - labour
Greenhouse- Green Party
The Centre for Policy Studies- Conservative

23
Q

What is the revolving door?

A

Senior politicians and officials take well paid jobs in private sector after they leave gov sector.

24
Q

What is The Centre for Policy Studies?

A
  • think tank
  • right of the centre.
  • It understands research to promote policies which reduce the role of the state/public sector.
  • It promotes neoliberalism.
25
Q

What is the Fabian Society?

A

Aims to promote the path to socialism. Affiliated with labour. think tank

26
Q

What think tank has David Attenborough as a patron?

A

‘Population matters’
- think tank who talks about how population growth impacts quality of life across the planet.

27
Q

What is the Green Alliance think tank?

A

They ensure uk political leaders deliver ambitious solutions to global environmental issues.
Activities include researched advocacy and convening high profile events with senior politicians

28
Q

What’s an example of a corporation?

A

Channel 4 TV
Aim to ‘champion unheard voices, take risks and stand up for diversity.

29
Q

What is the pressure group ‘act for act’?

A

Established to raise awareness about the importance of the Human Rights Act 1998

30
Q

What methods do the Act for Act pressure group use?

A
  • create petitions addressing the justice Secretary
  • make study videos.
  • funded by donations and support
31
Q

What does the Act for the Act pressure group believe people want to scrap the HRA?

A

As it’s for ‘terrorists, illegal immigrants, and criminals’

32
Q

What COVID act arguably restricted freedom?

A

Coronavirus Act 2020

33
Q

What are examples of individual rights?

A

Freedom of expression
Right to privacy
Right to strike and protest

34
Q

What are some examples of Collective rights?

A

Right of religious groups to not have their beliefs questioned
Right for community to be protected

35
Q

Why may citizens rights be compromised?

A

National security
Terrorism

36
Q

What was the Anti terrorism crime and security act 2001?

A

Gave gov legal power to imprison foreign terrorists indefinitely without trial.

37
Q

What was the homosexuality Asylum act 2010?

A

Asylum could be sought in UK if they are from a country which prosecuted homosexuals.

38
Q

What has Liberty done? (insider)

A
  • Challenged unjust laws like the Investigatory powers act (snoopers charter) which gave the police and security services to spy with or without suspect of wrong doing
  • 2020 - victory against Facial Recognition tech. The Court of Appeal found South Wales Police’s use of facial recognition technology breached privacy rights, data protection laws and equality laws.
  • 2022 - Liberty campaign against the Rights Removal Bill, which threatened to scrap the Human Rights Act and replace it with the Bill of Rights. The Government scrap the Bill before it is voted on.
39
Q

What’s an example of a sectional/interest group?

A

Trades Union Congress (TUC) – the main representative of trade unions in Britain, which represent about 6.5 million workers.

Want all organisations to publish an Ethnicity and gender pay gap 2021

40
Q

what’s an example of a promotional pressure group?

A

WWF
Address the threat of climate change.
Protect nature so we can all enjoy its benefits.
Help eradicate the illegal trade in wildlife.

41
Q

What’s an example of an insider pressure group?

A

british medical association
“We issue briefings to MPs and peers, influence consultations and inquiries, and seek members’ views to influence legislation.”

42
Q

What’s an example of an outsider pressure group?

A

Insulate Britain

Sir David King (the former Chief Scientist) has stated in 2021 that “what we do in the next 3 to 4 years will impact the future of humanity”.
unpopular - government has taken out a number of court injunctions, external to try to prevent further action, and new powers targeting such protests have been announced.

43
Q

What think tank did Liz Truss have close ties to?

A

The Institute of Economic Affairs

44
Q

What is the significance of the think tank Institute for Economic Affairs?

A
  • Boasted of securing access to 75 cross party Parliament members in March 2022
  • Truss founded its parliamentary wing the Free Enterprise Group in 2011.
  • Truss adopted several of its policies including slashing tax for wealthy and corporations.