Democracy in the UK Flashcards

Question

Arguments against voting online

Answer 1

it is subject to breaches in cybersecurity.

Answer 2

an organisation that seeks to influence public policy.

Answer 3

Promotional and Sectional

Answer 4

they serve the whole community, not just their own members and supporters. they tend to concentrate on public opinion and putting pressure on government, seeking widespread support. they usually focus on one specific issue or a range of issues relating to a general cause. EXAMPLE: BLM

Answer 5

They are usually self-interested in that they serve the interests of their own members and supporters. They tend to promote direct links with decision makers (insider status), as they usually do not participate in civil disobedience. EXAMPLE: National Education Union - interest of teachers.

Answer 6

Pressure groups - do not generally seek governmental power. political parties - seek to gain power or a share of power.

Answer 7

pressure groups - not accountable except to their own members. political parties - have to make themselves accountable to the electorate.

Answer 8

pressure groups - usually have narrower concerns and sometimes are concerned with only one issue. political parties - develop policies across all or most areas of government responsibility.

Answer 9

pressure groups - often have supporters rather than members. political parties - usually have a formal membership and some kind of formal organisation.

Answer 10

- Lobbying - public campaigning - donations to political parties - media campaigns - civil disobedience - social media and e-petitions - legal action

Answer 11

This involves persuasion through direct contact with important decisions makers, policy makers, and legislators. It is used largely by insider groups. examples: National Farmers' Union, British Bankers' Association, and Confederation of British Industry. Age UK lobbies MPs on behalf of pensioners.

Answer 12

this involves large-scale demonstrations of support for an issue or a group. It is designed to mobilise public opinion and to show the level of support to decision makers. examples: pro-remain demonstrations (organised by People's Vote) and pro-leave demonstrations following the EU referendum.

Answer 13

These are legal as long as they are declared. They are typically used by large corporations and employer organisations or by trade unions. example: Open Democracy found that the Conservative Party received £11 million from property developers in Boris Johnson's first year as Prime Minister.

Answer 14

These often feature celebrities and mobilise public support. examples: the 2020 campaign with Marcus Rashford fought to continue free school meals over the summer holidays, and efforts to reduce the stigma for those suffering from poor mental health with Princes William and Harry.

Answer 15

When other methods have failed, illegal methods may be used. examples: - Extinction Rebellion by blocking roads and bridges. - Plane Stupid opposing airport expansion by invading runways. - The suffragettes also engaged in civil disobedience, which ranged from women chaining themselves to railings at Buckingham Palace to defacing valuable works of art. - Just Stop Oil by throwing paint and glitter at monuments, sport matches, and Parliament, and blocking the M25.

Answer 16

Social media can be used to raise awareness and gain support, and to organise e-petitions and local action. examples: the successful campaign to scrap the tampon tax resulted in the government agreeing to scrap VAT on sanitary products from 2021. The e-petition to accept more Syrian refugees in 2015 received 460,000 signatures.

Answer 17

Judicial reviews aim to prevent discrimination against women and minorities and to preserve much-needed public services. example: the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign won a legal battle in 2013 when the Court of Appeal ruled that the government did not have the legal authority to close Lewisham Hospital. The civil liberties organisation Liberty won a case against police use of facial recognition technology in August 2020.

Answer 18

- Insider status - Group size - Public support

Answer 19

Insider groups may be given the opportunity to offer their views on draft legislation. Example: private healthcare companies helped draft the controversial Health and Social Care bill that they themselves stood to benefit from.

Answer 20

Not all insider groups are influential in every circumstance. Example: the Confederation of British Industry has strong ties to the Conservative Party but has not been able to influence government policy on Brexit in the way it would like to.

Answer 21

A larger membership can be important in persuading government that a pressure group reflects a significant section of public opinion. Example: the Campaign to Protect Rural England has 40,000 members and has been largely successful in defending the green belt from property development.

Answer 22

Larger group size does not always guarantee success. Example: the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament had an estimated 110,000 members in the mid-1980s but arguably had little influence on government.

Answer 23

Pressure groups that can demonstrate large-scale public support are more likely to have influence. Example: the Snowdrop Campaign to ban the use to handguns was successful largely because of the public reaction to the 1996 Dunblane primary school massacre.

Answer 24

Government attitudes may matter more than public opinion. Example: the 2013 badger cull went ahead, regardless of the public outcry and concern from animal welfare groups.

Answer 25

1. They help to disperse power and influence more widely. Example: the British Medical Association ensures that the voice of the medical community is heard when it comes to health policy. 2. They educate the public about important political issues. 3. They give people more opportunities to participate in policies without having to sacrifice too much of their time and attention. Example: 38 Degrees estimates that nearly 40 million people have signed an e-petition since 2013. 4. They can promote and protect the interests and rights of minorities. Example: the Howard League fights for better prison conditions for prison inmates. 5. They help to call government to account by publicising the effects of policy. Example: Justice4Grenfell pushed for a public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire.

Answer 26

1. Some groups are elitist and tend to concentrate power in the hands of too few people. Example: the 'revolving door' involves special advisors to ministers getting well-paid jobs at lobbying firms, where they can exploit the contacts they made while in government. 2. Some groups may distort information or seek to limit social and technological progress. Example: Stop 5G is a group that is concerned about the potential health and environmental effects of 5G, but its claims are hotly contested. 3. Those that are internally undemocratic may not accurately represent the views of their members and supporters. Example: many pressure group leaders are unelected. 4. Finance is a key factor in political influence so groups that are wealthy may wield a disproportionate amount of influence. Example: in 2020, housing minister Robert Jenrick was accused of rushing through approval of a development project to satisfy Tory donor Richard Desmond, a property developer.

Democracy in the UK Flashcards

(70 cards)