Pressure Groups Flashcards
(12 cards)
What are pressure groups?
A membership based organised group of people that try to persuade the govt or other authorities to make a change in policy, without seeking power.
What are the 3 key features of pressure groups?
- Seek to exert influence from outside the govt
- Usually have a narrow focus
- Members united by a shared belief or common set of interests
What are promotional groups?
Groups that advocate for a specific issue that does not necessarily directly benefit members but believe is good for society.
What are sectional groups?
Groups that represent a section of society and protect + advance the interests of that group. E.g. by occupation
What are insider groups?
Groups that have close ties to decision makers in policy, perhaps being consulted in the early stages of a draft bill to offer expert advice, may hire professional lobbyists to gain access to decision makers and may be involved in special committees for the government.
E.g. national education union, British Medical Association
What are outsider groups?
Groups who the govt do not consult or whom do not wish to be closely involved with the government.
E.g. Black Lives Matter, extinction rebellion
What methods do pressure groups use?
Lobbying: insiders have lobbyists who sit in policy committees at a local level with councillors/mayors, at a regional level with MPs or at a national level with the cabinet/committees etc
Public campaigning: protests, epetitioms, celebrities, etc
Grants: trade unions to Labour, favour for interests, business groups
Media campaigns: through tv, radio, social media, they publicise their concerns
Direct action: striking
Legal action: judicial review
How does membership affect success in pressure groups?
Groups with large memberships seen as more legitimate so govt more likely to consult, also members may have specific skills like marketing, fundraising etc
Also have more money
E.g. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has 1.2mill members
Vow does insider status affect success of pressure groups?
They are regularly consulted by govt and may help draft legislation
Have a widely accepted authority due to their expertise
E.g. Starmer CBI annual conference said he won’t be able to do some “good Labour things” due to his promise that Labour will be a “pro-business party”, arguably changing his policy and steering Labour away from its socialist roots
How does tactics affect success of pressure groups?
Successful groups usually mix conventional tactics like lobbying and contemporary methods like social media and protests.
More extreme methods arguably less likely work but sometimes necessary if being ignored
E.g. conventional: Green peace
Extreme; just stop oil
How does public support affect success of pressure groups!
Groups “pushing through open door” on already popular issue more likely to be successful e.g. Jamie Oliver “Feed Me Better” campaign rather than controversial ones such as NACRO protection of offenders
How does celebrity endorsement affect success of pressure groups?
Media coverage is aided by a public figure being behind it e.f. Joanna Linley’s support for Gerkha Justice
