How democratic are pressure groups?
- Created by: bethsmith99
- Created on: 16-04-16 16:37
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- How democratic are pressure groups?
- Disproportionate Influence
- Some groups wield more power than their relative importance might suggest.
- Some sectional groups hold a particular strategic position in society, we rely on them a great deal, therefore have to take demands into account
- Finance lobby- after 2007+8 credit crunch, pubic fury over size of top bankers pay, yet finance sector account for a vital part of British economy.
- Some sectional groups hold a particular strategic position in society, we rely on them a great deal, therefore have to take demands into account
- Some groups wield more power than their relative importance might suggest.
- Education
- Educate +inform people about issues in Parliament, and give lots of info.
- Combining various sources of info means people are able to make a judgement,
- Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) inform public on dangers of smoking.
- Combining various sources of info means people are able to make a judgement,
- Educate +inform people about issues in Parliament, and give lots of info.
- Finance
- Some have access to more funds than others. e.g those with sectional interests that represent employers+business have more finance than charities.
- Charities must rely on handouts from the public, or scarce lottery funding. Many give donations to political parties = more at an advantage.
- 2006-7, no. of individuals donated to political parties for the granting of peerages, 'cash for peerages'
- Undermined faith in British Democracy, and highlighted the issue of undue influence by those who command great wealth.
- 2006-7, no. of individuals donated to political parties for the granting of peerages, 'cash for peerages'
- Charities must rely on handouts from the public, or scarce lottery funding. Many give donations to political parties = more at an advantage.
- Some have access to more funds than others. e.g those with sectional interests that represent employers+business have more finance than charities.
- Elites and Concentration of Power
- Elitism in wealthy, strategically important groups, Concentrate power in the hands of the few.
- When elites are 'insider' groups, they might form a powerful elite with govt.Ministers who are inflluenced by group leaderships than by wider memberships = accused of further elitism
- Banking lobby
- When elites are 'insider' groups, they might form a powerful elite with govt.Ministers who are inflluenced by group leaderships than by wider memberships = accused of further elitism
- Elitism in wealthy, strategically important groups, Concentrate power in the hands of the few.
- Dispersal of Power (Pluralism)
- Help spread power more quickly- empower their wider membership. Full population represented-voices are heard
- As long as they influence, they give the politically active part of the population access to decision makers - in/directly
- Help spread power more quickly- empower their wider membership. Full population represented-voices are heard
- Participation
- When people do not involve themselves in political activity, the government will become dictatorial.
- Political activism is important to prevent excessive accumulations and ensure govt remains accountable to the people.
- Give vital opportunities for political participation
- 38 Degrees, participate in local+national compagins
- Give vital opportunities for political participation
- Political activism is important to prevent excessive accumulations and ensure govt remains accountable to the people.
- When people do not involve themselves in political activity, the government will become dictatorial.
- Digitalised Democracy
- Possible to mount a campaign very quickly, undemocratic:
- 1. Info spread can be false - very easy to spread misinformation
- 2. Campaigns can give impression that a cause has widespread support, when it is a reflection of internet support, rather than true supporters
- 3. Excessive influence from the 'mass population' may not be well informed.
- 2. Campaigns can give impression that a cause has widespread support, when it is a reflection of internet support, rather than true supporters
- 1. Info spread can be false - very easy to spread misinformation
- Possible to mount a campaign very quickly, undemocratic:
- Disproportionate Influence
- Some sectional groups hold a particular strategic position in society, we rely on them a great deal, therefore have to take demands into account
- Finance lobby- after 2007+8 credit crunch, pubic fury over size of top bankers pay, yet finance sector account for a vital part of British economy.
- Representation
- Represent the people's interests to those who govern. May be active members who know exactly what is being addressed.
- When people are not active, they are being passively represented. Even the smaller minorities are likely to enjoy benefits. Pressure groups have important representative functions to perform.
- The Automobile Association (AA) represents interests of motorists.
- When people are not active, they are being passively represented. Even the smaller minorities are likely to enjoy benefits. Pressure groups have important representative functions to perform.
- How democratic are pressure groups?
- Disproportionate Influence
- Some groups wield more power than their relative importance might suggest.
- Some groups wield more power than their relative importance might suggest.
- Education
- Educate +inform people about issues in Parliament, and give lots of info.
- Combining various sources of info means people are able to make a judgement,
- Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) inform public on dangers of smoking.
- Combining various sources of info means people are able to make a judgement,
- Educate +inform people about issues in Parliament, and give lots of info.
- Finance
- Some have access to more funds than others. e.g those with sectional interests that represent employers+business have more finance than charities.
- Charities must rely on handouts from the public, or scarce lottery funding. Many give donations to political parties = more at an advantage.
- 2006-7, no. of individuals donated to political parties for the granting of peerages, 'cash for peerages'
- Undermined faith in British Democracy, and highlighted the issue of undue influence by those who command great wealth.
- 2006-7, no. of individuals donated to political parties for the granting of peerages, 'cash for peerages'
- Charities must rely on handouts from the public, or scarce lottery funding. Many give donations to political parties = more at an advantage.
- Some have access to more funds than others. e.g those with sectional interests that represent employers+business have more finance than charities.
- Elites and Concentration of Power
- Elitism in wealthy, strategically important groups, Concentrate power in the hands of the few.
- When elites are 'insider' groups, they might form a powerful elite with govt.Ministers who are inflluenced by group leaderships than by wider memberships = accused of further elitism
- Banking lobby
- When elites are 'insider' groups, they might form a powerful elite with govt.Ministers who are inflluenced by group leaderships than by wider memberships = accused of further elitism
- Elitism in wealthy, strategically important groups, Concentrate power in the hands of the few.
- Dispersal of Power (Pluralism)
- Help spread power more quickly- empower their wider membership. Full population represented-voices are heard
- As long as they influence, they give the politically active part of the population access to decision makers - in/directly
- Help spread power more quickly- empower their wider membership. Full population represented-voices are heard
- Participation
- When people do not involve themselves in political activity, the government will become dictatorial.
- Political activism is important to prevent excessive accumulations and ensure govt remains accountable to the people.
- Give vital opportunities for political participation
- 38 Degrees, participate in local+national compagins
- Give vital opportunities for political participation
- Political activism is important to prevent excessive accumulations and ensure govt remains accountable to the people.
- When people do not involve themselves in political activity, the government will become dictatorial.
- Digitalised Democracy
- Possible to mount a campaign very quickly, undemocratic:
- 1. Info spread can be false - very easy to spread misinformation
- 2. Campaigns can give impression that a cause has widespread support, when it is a reflection of internet support, rather than true supporters
- 3. Excessive influence from the 'mass population' may not be well informed.
- 2. Campaigns can give impression that a cause has widespread support, when it is a reflection of internet support, rather than true supporters
- 1. Info spread can be false - very easy to spread misinformation
- Possible to mount a campaign very quickly, undemocratic:
- Disproportionate Influence
- Represent the people's interests to those who govern. May be active members who know exactly what is being addressed.
- Mass Membership groups e.g Age UK, trade unions
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