pressure groups

Question 1

what is a casual group?

Answer 1

a pressure group who’s goal is to promote beliefs

Question 2

examples of casual groups (2)

Answer 2

• friends of the earth
• greenpeace

- Friends of the Earth

Question 3

what is a sectional group?

Answer 3

a pressure group representing a group in society

Question 4

examples of sectional groups (2)

Answer 4

• Age Uk

- Muslim council of Britain

Question 5

what is an insider group?

Answer 5

pressure groups that have close links with decision makers (the government)

Question 6

tactics of insider groups:

Answer 6

• make presentations of their case to decision makers

- offer expert advice to the government

Question 7

what is an outsider group?

Answer 7

pressure groups that don’t have close links with the government, and have to use external links

Question 8

tactics of outsider groups:

Answer 8

• protests
• public campaigning
• petitions

Question 9

what is RRPE?

Answer 9

what makes a pressure group successful:
R: resources (money/equipment)
R: relationships with the government 
P: popularity 
E: expertise (knowledge)

Question 10

what is lobbying?

Answer 10

large gatherings at Parliament/ council offices, and making direct meetings with decision makers

Question 11

what is media campaign?

Answer 11

groups that hope to gain recognition from press/TV

Question 12

what is direct action?

Answer 12

violent approaches top getting a point across (e.g. suffragettes)

Question 13

what is the ASH pressure group and what did they try to do?

Answer 13

a pressure group spreading knowledge about tobacco use and they wanted to pressure governments into adopting policies and laws to reduce tobacco use

Question 14

what methods did ASH use?

Answer 14

• conducting research to try and educate the government into the effects of smoking etc
• they are insider, therefore they used presentations etc

Question 15

ASH successes:

Answer 15

• restrictions on advertising tobacco products were implemented
• health warnings on cigarette packs
• increased taxes on tobacco

Question 16

what is the RMT union? and what do they want to achieve?

Answer 16

the national union of rail, maritime and transport workers, they aimed for better pay and working conditions, including shorter hours and safer working environments

Question 17

what methods did RMT use?

Answer 17

• negotiate contracts with major transport companies
• lobbies governments for Bette protections and safeties
• organise and conduct strikes to pressure employers to meet demands

Question 18

RMTs successes:

Answer 18

• helped members bring legal cases following injury
• securing bonus payments for workers during the 2012 Olympics
• improved safety standards on offshore oil platforms

Question 19

what is a think tank?

Answer 19

a group of experts brought together to collectively focus on political, social or economic topics to offer solutions and develop policies to be adopted by political parties or government

Question 20

what is the Institute of Economic Affairs?

Answer 20

a free market think tank that has close links to the Conservative party. they are critical on the governments measures to restrict/reduce smoking, the sugar tax etc

Question 21

2 neutral think tanks:

Answer 21

• centre for social justice: policy on welfare issues

- respublica: general policy issues

Question 22

what is a lobbyist?

Answer 22

they are paid to influence the government to act in their clients interests, this can be through writing a letter to a local MP, at a more extreme level, they would arrange events for their clients to meet those in power, for example, offering political figures to sporting or cultural events

Question 23

what influence does the Institute of Economic and Social Research have on the government?

Answer 23

in 2020, they scrutinised the governments budget, raising questions on the governments viability of its growth and targets

Question 24

what is the liberty pressure group and what did they want to achieve?

Answer 24

they aimed to challenge the government measures to restrict freedoms, they wanted to protect civil rights and liberties

Question 25

what methods did liberty use?

Answer 25

- media campaigns - they work with the government to advise on legislation to ensure it complies with the human rights act - organise protests - they provide legal advice on cases of discrimination against gays, women's rights and disability rights

Question 26

liberty's successes:

Answer 26

- they launched a campaign to 'save the human rights act' to oppose the Conservative Parties idea to replace the human rights act with the bill of rights act - in August 2020, they won a court of appeal

Question 27

what is amnesty international and what did they aim to achieve?

Answer 27

they are a global campaign group that aims to protect people where their freedom, liberty or justice has been denied. they also aim to educate society

Question 28

what methods does amnesty use?

Answer 28

- lobbying to influence the government - email and twitter to raise awareness - organise petitions and public demonstrations

Question 29

what were amnesty's successes?

Answer 29

- India decriminalised same sex relationships - 8000 prisoners were released from Myanmar - the government of Malaysia, and the US announced plans to abolish the death penalty

Question 30

what influence do large corporations have on the government?

Answer 30

they have great insider influence as they play a big role in the economy, as they employ many people and account for a large proportion of economic activity. they also have their own think tanks and lobbyists

Question 31

give an example where a large corporation has had a large impact on the government

Answer 31

large companies like Google, Starbucks and Microsoft have resisted to calls for them to pay more in UK tax large alcoholic drinks manufactures have also campaigned against price controls to reduce excessive drinking the confectionary industry have resisted and toned down the governments' attempts to reduce the sugar content in their products

Question 32

contemporary insider and outsider group

Answer 32

insider: federation of small businesses outsider: just stop oil

Question 33

contemporary sectional and cause pressure groups

Answer 33

sectional: RMT cause: refugees welcome

Question 34

contemporary example of minister resigning

Answer 34

Rishi Sunak re: Boris Johnson

Question 35

contemporary example of a prime minister having to keep a 'big beast' in cabinet

Answer 35

Lizz Truss appointing Jeremy Hunt

Question 36

contemporary example of legislation impacting on citizens' rights

Answer 36

police, crime, sentencing and courts Act 2022 which Strengthens the police's power to tackle disruptive protests and protect the public by increasing the range of conditions police can impose on public assemblies

Question 37

contemporary example of a minority party

Answer 37

Green Party