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UK Politics - Pressure Groups > Pressure groups > Flashcards

Pressure groups Flashcards

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1
Q

what is a pressure group

A

a group of people trying to influence governments decisions by campaigning or advocating for a certain issue, without trying to gain election to public office

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2
Q

example of pressure groups

A
  • Trade Unions
  • RAC
  • RSPB
  • UKIP (which grew into a political party)
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3
Q

methods that pressure groups use

A
  • Lobbying
  • Media (“slacktivism”) (“clicktivism”)
  • Boycotting
  • Direct Action
  • Petitions
  • Research
  • Emails
  • Strikes
  • Messages via ‘thinktanks’
  • Giving evidence at hearing
  • Use a celebrity spokesperson
  • Bring test cases in court
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4
Q

what is lobbying?

A

influencing or attempting to influence legislative action or nonaction through oral or written communication or an attempt to obtain the goodwill of a member or employee of the Legislature

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5
Q

what is boycotting

A

withdraw from commercial or social relations with (a country, organization, or person) as a punishment or protest.

e.g. refusing to buy chocolate which isn’t Fairtrade

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6
Q

what is direct action

A

disruption, demonstration, protest

o Example : Insulate Britain climbed on M25 gantry and got the road closed
o Example: Farmers lining up tractors in Whitehall to protest the ‘Family Farm Tax’
o Example: Palestine protests organised by Palestine Solidarity Campaign

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7
Q

what is a ‘thinktank’

A

a research institute that performs research and advocacy on a variety of topics, aiming to influence public policy and debate

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8
Q

what is an example of a ‘thinktank’

A

Institute of Educational Affairs

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9
Q

what’s an example of giving evidence at a hearing

A

o Example: Grenfell tower hearing, possible pressure groups there; building unions, firefighter unions, victim pressure groups

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10
Q

what are examples of using a celebrity spokesperson

A

o example: Esther Rantzen – Dignity in Dying
o example: Ed Sheeran/ Antony Joshua – Crisis (homelessness)

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11
Q

what do sectional groups do

A
  • Represent a section of society
  • Members of these groups often have the same or similar occupation and shared interests
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12
Q

what are examples of sectional groups

A
  • National Farmers’ Union (NFU)
  • British Medical Association (BMA)
  • National Union of Teacher’s (NUT)
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13
Q

what kind of membership do sectional groups have

A
  • Closed membership – so only qualified members of each group can join (e.g. teachers joining NUT)
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14
Q

what do casual groups do

A
  • Campaign for a particular or issue, often one that doesn’t affect it’s members
  • Aim to improve society in some way
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15
Q

examples of causal groups

A
  • Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
  • The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)
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16
Q

membership of causal groups

A
  • Open membership – anyone can join
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17
Q

what is an insider group

A

have a special relationship with the government and are given access to officials and decision-makers

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18
Q

what is an outsider group

A

do not have such close links with the government and may resort to activities that generate attention from the press in order to publicise their cause and put pressure on the government to take the action they desire

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19
Q

what is an outsider group by necessity

A

(e.g. amnesty international), don’t want to be too close to government

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20
Q

what are outsider groups who would like to be insider

A

e.g. unions when there is a Labour Government

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21
Q

what are the motivations to join pressure groups

A
  • Representation
  • Personal beliefs
  • Participation
  • Material benefits
  • Need
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22
Q

describe Representation in terms of joining a pressure group

A

only way to reach their desired goal or job protection (e.g. NEU for teachers)

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23
Q

describe Personal beliefs in terms of joining a pressure group

A

May join because it affects their beliefs

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24
Q

describe Participation in terms of joining a pressure group

A

some join for the opportunity to get involved in a political issue

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25
describe Material Benefits in terms of joining a pressure group
In order to get something out of it (e.g. RAC breakdown cover)
26
describe Need in terms of joining a pressure group
only way to reach their desired goal or job protection (e.g. NEU for teachers)
27
what pressure groups might a Train Driver join and why?
Trade Unions e.g. RMT (Rail, Maritime, Transport workers) - helps train drivers by negotiating better pay and conditions, ensuring proper training, organising strikes
28
what pressure groups might a Farmer join and why?
NFU (National Farmers Union) - fighting for better policies, giving advice, offering support, making sure they get fair prices
29
what pressure groups might a Environmentalist join and why?
Green Peace – help protect nature, fight pollution, and stop climate change
30
what pressure groups might a Business Owner join and why?
CBI (Confederation of British Industry) - help lower taxes, promote free market trade
31
what pressure groups might a Car Owner join and why?
RAC (Royal Automobile Club) - breakdown coverage, improve road conditions, lowering road tax
32
what are reasons for the success of pressure groups
- Insider status - Wealth - Large membership - Organisation - Expertise - Celebrity endorsement
33
Describe Insider Status in terms of reason for success
having close links with government, able to advise and influence ministers directly
34
give an example of insider status being a success
In 2014, the Howard League for Penal Reform successfully campaigned to end the ban on prisoners receiving books sent to them by family or friends
35
describe Wealth in terms of reason for success
financial resources allow pressure groups to pay for things that may help promote their course e.g. lobbyists, adverts, and websites
36
give an example of when wealth was a reason for success
In 2012, the British Bankers’ Association paid lobbyists to persuade ministers to cut corporation tax and taxes on banks’ overseas subsidiaries
37
Describe Large Membership in terms of reason for success
lots of members means lots of control over the electorate and also having a large number of people ready to take action in terms of signing petitions and organising protests
38
give an example of when large membership was a reason for success
In 2015, the RSPB utilised over 500,000 members for its Big Garden Birdwatch
39
Describe Organisation in terms of reason for success
Effective management and coordination will allow a group to maximise its resources and target them effectively to help achieve its goals
40
give an example of when organisation was a reason for success
In 2025, the NEU pressuring their members to go on strike
41
Describe Expertise in terms of reason for success
pressure groups which have knowledge and expertise over a particular policy area is more likely to be listened to and respected by the government and public
42
describe expertise in terms of reasons for success
In 2016, the AA provided evidence and statistics to persuade the government to increase the penalties for using a mobile phone while driving
43
Describe Celebrity Endorsement in terms of reason for success
Popular celebrity will generate press interest and raise the profile of a cause, and may help to draw members to the group
44
give an example of when celebrity endorsement was a reason for success
In 2009, Joanna Lumley and the Gurka Justice Campaign secured equal rights for British and Commonwealth soldiers
45
things that might limit success of a pressure group
- Chequebook membership - 'Slacktivism' - Small membership - Outsider status
46
what are reasons for the failure of pressure groups
- The goal contradicts a government policy - The government can resist pressure from the group - Countervailing forces - The goals of the group act against popular opinion - The group alienates the public
47
Describe how The goal contradicting a government policy is a reason for Failure
If the government is determined to follow a particular policy then it will be very difficult for a pressure group to persuade the government to change it’s mind
48
give an example of when a goal contradicted a government policy
The Conservative government (2015-2024) was determined to introduce new policies for a 7-day NHS, therefore the BMA campaign against the proposals has largely failed
49
Describe how the government resisting pressure from the group is a reason for Failure
If those in power are in a strong enough position, they will feel able to resist a groups campaign and effectively ignore it
50
give an example of Countervailing forces
The pro-smoking group Forrest has failed to prevent restrictions on smoking in the UK, largely because it has lost out to the group ASH, which has successfully campaigned for restrictions on smoking
51
give an example of when government resisted pressure from a group
The Stop the War Coalition organised mass rallies and activities to stop the invasion of Iraq in 2003. However, with a large majority and cross-party support in parliament, the Blair government was able to resist the pressure and ignore the group’s demands
52
Describe how Countervailing forces are a reason for Failure
A pressure group may find itself campaigning against another, more powerful or more popular, pressure group which ‘wins’ the debate
53
Describe how The group alienating the public is a reason for Failure
a group is more likely to fail if it is campaigning for a cause that is not popular with the public, as governments will be more inclined to follow popular feelings on an issue
54
give an example of when the goals of a group act against the popular opinion
Groups such as the Coalition for Marriage failed in their campaign against the legal recognition of gay marriage because most public opinion was in favour of it. The group was therefore campaigning against a change that had public support
54
Describe how The group alienating the public is a reason for Failure
a group may make itself unpopular by committing acts that alienate public opinion. A group that partakes in violent or criminal action will be regarded unfavourably and lose support for its goals
55
give an example of when a group alienated the public
Violent groups such as ALF and PETA fail to achieve their goals because the public are opposed to their methods, even if they might support their causes. The same can be true of strike action if the public begins to blame the trade unions for the disruption caused
56
what is a Think Tank
- A think-tank is a group that has been formed with the specific purpose of formulating and developing policy ideas - The role of developing policy was traditionally done by the parties, but think-tanks offer an alternative that is based on focused and academic research rather than partisan ideals
57
give an example of a Think Tank
Think-tanks may be single issue groups, such as the Adam Smith Institute, which focuses on free market issues, or they may pursue a general agenda, such as reform, which develops proposals to better deliver public services and economic prosperity
58
Name 5 Think Tanks
1. Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) 2. Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) 3. Nesta 4. The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) 5. Chatham House
59

UK Politics - Pressure Groups (1 decks)

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