Flashcards in Pressure Group Behaviour Deck (46)
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1
What are access points , or 'points of leverage' ?
The points within the political system at which pressure groups and other interested parties can exert pressure on those who hold political power
2
Where is power concentrated in a unitary system?
at the centre
3
Are there more access points in a unitary system or federal?
federal system
4
Where is power in a federal system?
sovereign power over different areas of policy is held at different levels of government
5
Which types of systems offer a great range of meaningful access points to pressure groups?
systems that incorporate a clear separation of powers and an entrenched system of checks and balances such as the USA
6
What 3 factors have increased the number of access points in the UK over recent years?
-Scottish Parliament with primary legislative powers
-Creation of assemblies and executives in Wales, Northern Ireland and London
-Independent UKSC from the HOL
7
What powers do the Scottish Parliament have?
primary legislative powers
8
What are the 4 traditional methods of pressure groups?
-letter writing campaigns
-petitions
-marches
-conventional lobbying
9
What pressure group complied a petition of more than 2 million names in the mid 1980s and employed postcard campaigns in 1989 and 1990?
Anti-abortion organisation , Life
10
What did the anti-abortion organisation , Life, do in 1989 and 1990 as a traditional method of pressure groups ?
compiled a petition of more than 2 million names in mid 1980s and employed a post card campaign in 1989 and 1990 against the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act
11
What did the anti-abortion organisation , Life, campaign against?
the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act
12
What were there marches against in 1990 which were influential as a traditional method of pressure groups?
Marches against the Poll Tax
13
What is lobbying?
At a simple level, individuals or members of pressure groups may write to a government minister or visit the Palace of Westminster to lobby in person those who have influence over the groups area of interest or expertise
14
For a fee, what will professional lobby firms offer?
these organisations will direct professional lobbyists to use their contacts on behalf of the pressure group in question
15
Give an example of a professional lobby firm
the one time lobbying group Ian Greer Associates
16
What did the one time lobbying group Ian Greer Associates do ?
arranged the initial contact between Mohamed Al Fayed and the Conservative MP and junior trade minister Neil Hamilton
17
What influence do core insider groups have over influencing the legislate process directly?
have the ability to influence the formation of policy at an early stage though consultation with ministers, civil servants and government appointed bodies working on legislative proposals
18
What do some larger groups do to attempt to influence the legislative process directly?
they employ lobbyists to pursue their legislative goals and maintain permanent Westminster offices
19
In what 2 ways can pressure groups embarking on legal action work ?
1) the court finds that the government has acted in a manner beyond the authority granted (ultra vires)
2) such action raises public awareness of a particular issue, win or lose
20
What pressure group is an example of when they have embarked on legal action and raised public awareness for their cause?
the Pro-Life Alliance's challenge over the application of the hUman fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990
21
Why is working through a political party sometimes difficult to do?
the government is likely to be subject to far greater demands on its time and policy-formulation is often more top down
22
When is the easiest time for pressure groups to work through a political party?
when they are in opposition
23
Give an example of when a pressure group has worked through a political party in the opposition
Charter 88 and Labour pre 1997
24
What are direct action campaigns?
It starts from the premise that conventional methods of influencing policy are flawed and that more visible, direct protests may offer the best opportunities for success
25
Why do some pressure groups believe that using direct action will offer the best opportunities for success? (2)
because they make politicians taken notice and can broaden public support
26
What are 3 examples of direct action ?
-civil disobedience
-illegality
-violence
27
What do critics argue against direct action campaigns?
that the rise of single-issue, direct action politics undermines our system of representative democracy
28
What do some critics believe that that the rise of single-issue, direct action politics undermines our system of representative democracy ?
because such campaigns prevent government from implementing their programmes and from pursuing policies that address the nation and not just sectional interests
29
What are 6 examples of actual direct action campaigns
-anti-road protests
-campaigns against live animal exports
-fuel protests
-Fathers4Justice
-campaigns against fox hunting
-against vivisection and airport expansion
30
