Pressure Groups Essay

Question 1

effective - relationship with government: knowledge

Answer 1

• groups campaign causes widely considered positive
• stonewall: stand against lgbt discrimination
• greenpeace: raise awareness & tackle climate change
• insider pressure groups have close working relationship with decision makers

Question 2

effective - relationship with government: evidence

Answer 2

• british medical association, represent health professionals, often invited to give evidence to committees about health related bills considered by parliament
• BMA lobbied for opt out system of organ donation
• in 2019, uk government passed organ donation, deemed consent, act
• all adults automatically assumed to be a donor unless specified otherwise

Question 3

effective - relationship with government: analysis

Answer 3

• shows the government consult BMA as they are a respected group who offer expertise to make a positive difference

Question 4

ineffective - relationship with government: knowledge

Answer 4

• pressure group influence largely dependent of government of the day (labour conservative etc)

Question 5

ineffective - relationship with government: evidence

Answer 5

• trade union campaigners wanting better workers rights, historically enjoyed ties with labour governments
• conservative governments more unsympathetic
• in 2016, trade union act law passed, making more difficult for unions to take strike action

Question 6

ineffective - relationship with government: analysis

Answer 6

• suggests influence of some pressure groups directly linked to and may change depending on what party is in power

Question 7

relationship with government: evaluation

Answer 7

• overall, pressure groups effective influencing government, seen in BMA successful lobbying for organ donation act, influence of pressure group heavily reliant on party in charge at time

Question 8

effective - organisation: knowledge

Answer 8

• larger, well resourced & organised privileged groups have ability to influence
• wealthy groups can employ professional lobbyists to work on their behalf

Question 9

effective - organisation: evidence

Answer 9

• one group representing powerful interests, confederation of british industry
• represents 200,000+ UK businesses and often consulted by government over things such as corporation tax and minimum wage rates
• CBI campaign business friendly policies, such as lower corpo tax
• UK government very responsive to demand, as corpor lowered from 30% in 2007 to 19% today
• if UK government not respond positively to demand, CBI can advise businesses to leave UK

Question 10

effective - organisation: analysis

Answer 10

• some feel this threatens democracy as well funded groups can get their way and buy access to Government and changes in policy
• government may feel forced to appease CBI, but this reduces tax intake and the ability of Government to provide public services
• showing professional lobbying by powerful groups corrupts political process

Question 11

ineffective - organisation: knowledge

Answer 11

• smaller, less well resourced & less privileged groups cannot influence in the same way

Question 12

ineffective - organisation: evidence

Answer 12

• e.g. outside group Republic campaign for abolition of monarchy, but according to 2018 YouGov poll, 69% brits support monarch compared to 21% who oppose
• shows little appetite for the aim of Republic, therefore considered unsuccessful
• was seen during protests after King Charles III ascended throne where protestors held signs with #abolishthemonarchy
• general public showed little sympathy when protestors arrested
• major newspapers in UK also tend to be pro monarchy, and pressure groups have more influence when they have media backing

Question 13

ineffective - organisation: analysis

Answer 13

• generating media publicity not enough, must be positive media publicity
• republic lack this, causing them to have limited appeal

Question 14

organisation: evaluation

Answer 14

• overall, can be strongly argued, in order for pressure group to effectively influence government, must be well funded & organised, such as CBI