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Democracy Flashcards

(46 cards)

1
Q

What is a think tank?

A

A group established in order to generate ideas, political parties often work closely with affiliates to think tanks to gain policy ideas.

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2
Q

What is a lobbyist?

A

Lobbyists represent the interests of a particular group or cause and seek to influence politicians in its favour.

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3
Q

What is a corporation?

A

A business who tries to be closely involved with the decision making process to further their profits.

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4
Q

Give me examples of the impact of lobbyists?

A

> in 2023 the UK government met with oil and gas lobbyists every single day, this was made apparent after the UK backtracked on its climate change agreement and doubled down on North Sea oil and gas.
Owen peters a former Northern Irish MP lobbyied for a company called randox a global heath company and gained them a massive government contract without the proper tending process at the start of Covid.

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5
Q

How much is spent every year on lobbyists?

A

£2 billion

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6
Q

How much is estimated the average MP is contacted by lobbyists?

A

The Hansard society estimated the average MP is contacted 100 times a week by a lobbyist.

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7
Q

What is the revolving door in politics?

A

The revolving door is the idea that MP’s or special advisors turn into lobbyists once they’re no longer working for the government giving lobbyists easy access into the political sphere.

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8
Q

Give me an example of the revolving door?

A

Chris Ward former advisor to Keir Starmer worked for Hanbury strategy a lobbying firm with clients such as Israeli Oil and Royal Mail for two years in the 2024 election he stood for election in Brighton.

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9
Q

How do coorporations influence the government?

A

> hire lobbyists
Political donations
Support political campaigns
Employ former politicians or civil servants to further their cause.

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10
Q

Give me an example of the role lobbyists play for corporations?

A

> 80% of lobbyists are employed by major corporations
oil and gas companies met every day with the UK gov in 2023 via the links provided by lobbyists

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11
Q

Give me examples of political donations?

A

> £250,000 by Flowieau to the conservatives
£200,000 by dusty TLP to labour

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12
Q

How can cooperations support political campaigns?

A

Many corporations support Marcus Rashfords free school meals campaign which forced the Conservative Party to change its stance.

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13
Q

How can former politicians assist Corporations?

A

David Cameron in 2020 lobbied for green shill capital and became a share holder he attempted to gain funding during Covid for the corporation but fell flat.

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14
Q

Is it democratic?

A

> On the one hand corporations should pay lots of taxes and are vital in the economy so deserve a say and they have a lot of expertise to offer in particular fields.
But many corporations also drown out the influence of individuals like trade unions and only work for themselves not the benefit of the wider community.

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15
Q

Examples of think tanks:

A
  • Fabian society (labour)
  • Adam Smith institute (conservative)
  • Demos (cross thinking)
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16
Q

How are think tanks influential?

A
  • Can be influential on policy ideas, such as Joseph Rowntree foundation which has been cited in over 157 policy documents
  • Iain Duncan Smith founded the centre for social justice was made leader of the Conservative Party highlighting the link between think tanks and the political sphere.
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17
Q

How are think tanks limited in their influence?

A

> only influential of their respective ideological party is in power
the rise of pragmatism and abandonment of ideology in UK politics has left many think tanks to become ignored by established political parties.

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18
Q

What is a sectional pressure group?

A

> sectional pressure groups represent the interests of a particular group within society
Muslim council of Britain

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19
Q

What is a causal pressure group?

A

> Pressure groups that represent a wide ranging issue
anyone can be a part of the pressure group
friends of the earth

20
Q

What is an insider pressure group?

A

> an insider pressure group attempts to inact influence using insider links to the political sphere to influence key decision makers in government.
for example the BMA

21
Q

What is an outsider pressure group?

A

> a pressure group that doesn’t have as much access to government than insider ones so attempt to influence the government by winning public support
for example the Ghurka justice campaign.

22
Q

How can insider pressure groups gain access and influence?

A

Certain pressure groups can offer an area of expertise on certain issues, such as the BMA who are often consulted on healthcare issues, giving them access and influence to decision makers.

23
Q

How are pressure groups influence often changed by political circumstances?

A

> certain governments don’t allows insider access to certain pressure groups, trade unions often get access during labour office whilst they struggle to under the tories
on the other hand groups like the tax payers alliance a pressure group advocating for small government can gain access under the conservatives.

24
Q

What is the best example of a powerful pressure groups?

A

> in the 1970’s under the labour administration pressure groups had immense power.
the leader of the transport and general workers union a man called Jack Jones was credited to be the most powerful man in Britain all because of the hold he had over the prime minister
yeah he was the fucking bollocks.

25
Why do some pressure groups not engage with the government directly?
> some outsider pressure groups do not engage with the government because it compromises their principles > such as green peace > it is also because they do not have the funds to lobby the government.
26
How can pressure groups gain public support?
> pressure groups like Oxfam and friends of the Earth have a large social media presence, this is called ‘clickogracy’ and is used to mobilise public opinion. > Civil disobedience can be used to gain media attention like Just stop oil. But it can often back fire and create a negative portrayal
27
Give me an example of a successful outsider pressure group:
> the Gurkha justice campaign in 2009 > famous actress Joana Lumly endorsed this pressure group giving them a solid platform where they got 250,000 signatures on a petition to secure equal status for the residency of Ghurkas which Gordon Brown in 2009 signed.
28
How can trade unions mobilise the public?
> trade unions like the teachers union in recent years have gone on strike to gain public support > the RMT union have gone on nation wide strike to in act change.
29
How are UK rights established?
> acts of parliament > constitutional landmarks > court cases
30
Give me an example of how constitutional landmarks have changed human rights in the UK:
> Magna Carta in 1215 established that the law is impartial and everyone has the right to a fair trial
31
Example of how court cases have shaped UK human rights:
> Somerset V Stewart 1772- established the slavery was illegal in the UK
32
Example of how an act of parliament has shaped UK rights:
> representation of the people act 1928- brought about universal suffrage > bill of rights 1689- established the principle of the constitutional monarchy.
33
What type of liberties are these?
Negative liberties, essentially everything that is not expressly forbidden is within our human rights.
34
How did the approach to civil rights change in 1997?
> wanted more emphasis on codified positive rights > to ensure UK citizens had greater knowledge of their own rights.
35
What was the human rights act 1998?
> the HRA was passed in 1998 accepting that the European convention on human rights would now be binding to UK courts
36
What was the freedom of information act (2000) ?
> established a right of access of information held by public bodies, so UK citizens could no more about how public bodies that serve them operate > The MP expenses scandal was exposed by Journalists demanding information via the 2000 information act.
37
What was the equality act (2010)?
> established equality before law for all citizens, meaning discrimination was illegal in 9 recognised areas, such as: > race > gender >age
38
What are civic duties?
> responsibilities held by UK citizens that can be enforced by law, such as paying taxes or serving on a jury.
39
How can this infringe upon our civil rights?
> highlights the fact the public cannot do whatever it wants. > if civic duties are not followed the government can restrict certain rights for the collective good of the community.
40
How have terrorist attacks potentially restricted the rights of UK citizens?
> the anti terrorist crime and security act 2001 gave the government the legal power to imprison foreign terrorist suspects indefinitely without trial > in 2005 the serious organised crime and police act limited the right of protest outside parliament > In 2016 parliament passed the investigatory powers act which authorises the retention of personal electronic data and its access for law enforcement.
41
Give me two examples of how the HRA has protected human rights?
> in 2004 senior judges declared the way in which foreign terrorist suspects are being held by the government was in breach of the HRA as a result the gov released them from Bel Marsh prison > Attempts by the UK government to deport Abu Qatada an Islamist preacher who came to the country illegally were stopped for 8 years on the grounds that the evidence used against him were obtained through torture methods which is in breach of article 3 of the ECHR
42
How is the HRA potentially not effective at protecting our liberties?
> it can be removed by an act of parliament as parliament is still the supreme law maker parliament can suspend or repeal the HRA. > it can also make legislation in conflict with the HRA, as Tony Blair did after the foreign detainees were released from Bel Marsh by quickly in acting legislation that kept them under close surveillance.
43
How can parliament also protect civil liberties?
> in 2005 when the Blair government attempted to increase the time a terrorist suspect could be held in prison for to 90 days it was defeated in the House of Lords > in 2010 the coalition government committed itself to the repeal of identity cards
44
What did Boris Johnson as Mayor of London during increased fear of terrorism in the UK?
> ‘I’m not particularly interested in this civil liberties stuff’
45
How have politicians defended the suspension of civil liberties?
> they’re not infringing on civil rights but protecting the citizens of the UK
46
To what degree do UK citizens agree?
> the fact very few acts have produced much public outcry expcept the identity cards issue their seems to be a level of understanding that to achieve the collective good sometimes UK rights must be put on hold.