Paper 1- Government and Politics- Democracy

What are think tanks?

Groups of experts from different backgrounds who aim to influence and prepare draft legislation on specialist topics.

What is the role of a think tank?

Can offer politicians and parties advice on policies and provide vital additional views. They carry out research and influence public policy.

Example of think tank in action…

The shift of conservative party thinking towards a more overtly free market approach in the 1970s owed to Thatcher’s patronage of right.

What are lobbyists?

Groups who lobby professionally. They are paid by wealthy interest groups and corporations to lobby the government. They seek to influence government policy. Pressure groups often employ lobbyists to advocate their cause.

Give an example of someone who worked for a lobby group.

Priti Patel- worked for Weber Shandwick lobby group.

What is the role of lobby groups?

To influence public opinion

What’s an example of a lobby group in action?

Patrick Mercer had to resign the whip when an undercover BBC journalist offered him £4000 to lobby for business interests in Fiji and he accepted.

What are corporations?

Wealthy, large, powerful companies or clusters of companies acting under one leadership that will try to influence the government policy if it serves their interest.

What is the role of corporations?

To protect their own interests.

What’s an example of a corporation in action?

One corporation tried to persuade the government to abandon planned tax on sugary soft drinks but it went ahead anyway.

What’s pluralism?

Where many groups exist and have a fair opportunity to influence government decisions. In a pluralist democracy power is widely spread.

What’s elitism?

When power is concentrated in the hands of a small, select group of people or small, wealthy groups rather than those who represent the people.

Give an example of pluralism.

There are pressure groups to represent all sections in society such as women, Muslims and Hindus, Christians and Buddhists…

Give an example of elitism.

Pressure group success may be increased by wealth as wealthy groups can afford to pay professional lobbyists and experts.

Give an example of an outsider pressure group and what it does.

Greenpeace- Greenpeace is a movement of people who are passionate about defending the natural world from destruction. Our vision is a greener, healthier and more peaceful planet, one that can sustain life for generations to come. Also Fare Share.

Give an example of an insider pressure group and what it does.

The National Farmers Union (NFU)- advocated for the farming sector. Also the BMA.

List some factors which may restrict pressure groups:

Government in power is hostile to the pressure groups aims, hostile public opinion can restrict pressure group power, lack of finance and lack of experts.

List some pressure group methods:

Lobbying, direct action, legal action, raising funds, social media, working with parties, mobilising public opinion, parliamentary methods.

Explain the pressure group method- mobilising public opinion.

Pressure groups have taken advantage of the fact that the link between the public and political parties has been weakening since the 1970s. Pressure groups can command widespread interest amongst the people and so deliver many votes.

Explain the pressure group method- working with parties.

Many pressure groups will also seek to work with political parties, either by supporting electoral campaigns or by working with parties on policy formulation. This can help their causes to be promoted both to voters and in Parliament.

Explain the pressure group method- direct action.

This is when pressure groups seek publicity for their cause. Mass demonstrations are the most common examples. 2003 million man march against the Iraq war and the opposition to expansion of Heathrow and Stansted airports.

Example of pressure group celebrity endorsement.

Marcus Rashford partnered with fair share and several major companies including Tesco, Lidl, Deliveroo, Sainsburys, Waitrose and also Asda to deliver free food to vulnerable families and children around the UK during the covid crisis of 2020. He harnessed the power of social media to pressure the government over their decision not to extend free school meals to children during holidays.

Example of pressure group direct action.

Outsider groups engaging in eg civil disobedience. Plane stupid 2008 Westminster roof protest- discussed in PMQs and no 3rd runway built! UK uncut- Starbucks sit in paid £20 m.

Pressure group working with parties example.

The British medical association wrote letters to members of the House of Commons and Lords on the Issue of smoking in cars which carry child passengers and the associated health risks. The House of announced that in Feb 2014 they plan to hold a vote on the issue- as of 2015 this was made illegal

How do pressure groups enhance representation?

Minor issues can be represented. Add to functional representation- smaller interest groups are represented, broadening democracy. They are often single focus- they dedicate more time to these issues than the government.

How do pressure groups enhance participation?

Allow the public to engage with politics in a structured way. E. g. Britain in Europe Campaign (2016). This can prevent frustrations becoming violent or chaotic where people feel disenfranchised or marginalised. They also promote public discussion.

How do pressure groups enhance education?

They act as a source of specialist knowledge. The government often ask pressure groups for advice. They are beneficial as they stop the government from making mistakes. They can educate the broader public on key issues and keep issues in the public eye.

What is general apathy?

When some people do not vote because they don’t understand the importance of doing so, they don’t think that their vote will make a difference, or they can’t be bothered.

Explain the basics of the expenses scandal…

-The Parliamentary expenses scandal was in 2009.

-After investigations under the freedom of information act it was discovered that there was a widespread abuse of Parliamentary expenses which are paid for by tax-payers money.

-These expenses are designed to pay for MPs travelling cost and living costs whilst they are away in London away from their constituency.

-Some MPs were making false claims for mortgage payments, to pay for their children’s accommodation and even to decorate their home with luxury items.

-One MP claimed thousands of pounds for a duck house.

-5 former MPs and 2 members of the Lords were sentenced to prison sentences.

Give and example of cronyism (PM rewarding loyal supporters with peerages).

Johnson appointing Zak Goldsmith as a Lord despite him losing his parliamentary seat.

Disillusionments with the electoral system-

Under First Past The Post millions of votes are wasted and the winning party rarely ever wins with a majority meaning that most people actually vote against them.

What would a low turnout indicate?

A participation crisis. If people are no longer going out to vote in a general election, then this could be evidence towards dissatisfaction, or apathy towards the political system.

Reasons for low turnouts:

• A lack of trust in the politicians and political systems.

• People think that their vote wont make a difference.

• Some people don’t vote because they feel as though they don’t know enough about the government.

• Millions of votes will be wasted.

• Lack of trust in politicians as they are known for braking laws that everyone has to follow- during lockdown Dominic Cummings visited a castle for his wife’s birthday during lockdown.

Can prisoners vote?

Currently prisoners in the UK cannot vote in any elections unless on remand (not yet found guilty by jury of peers).

Can prisoners vote in Scotland?

From 2020 prisoners serving a sentence of less than 12 months can vote.

Arguments for prisoners being able to vote…

• The denial of rights to vote removes a sense of civic responsibility, making rehabilitation harder.

• The right to vote is fundamental and cannot be removed.

• The removal of vote makes a prisoner a non-person and further alienates them from society.

• A violation of human rights.

Arguments for prisoners not to be able to vote…

• Those who commit a crime against society should lose the right to have a say in how society is run.

• The threat of losing the right to vote prevents crime.

• It would undermine the principle of justice.

List some European countries with an outright ban on prisoner voting-

• Russia, Armenia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, and Hungary.

What type of prisoners can vote?

Those held on remand awaiting trail/sentencing, civil prisoners- normally those in prison for failure to pay fines or depts, and offenders on home detention curfew or released on temporary license.

Explain the basics of Hirst Vs UK.

• John was born in Yorkshire and raised in a children’s home.

• He entered into a life of crime as a young man in 1979 and beat his landlady to death.

• In 1980 he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

• In total he spend 24 years in prison with additional sentences for rioting as he fought against life and conditions in prison.

• In the 1990s he started a legal campaign to restore prisoners’ rights to vote.

• The high court dismissed his challenge in 2001 but Hirst launched a new appeal under the Human Rights Act which was successfully upheld by the European Court of Human Rights in 2005.

Places where 16 year olds have the right to vote-

• The Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey.

• Austria

• Brazil

• Scotland (in referendums)

Reasons why 16 year olds shouldn’t have the right to vote-

• People think that 16 year olds aren’t mature so therefore their views will be influenced by social media.

• 16 year olds are less educated on politics and therefore don’t have a good understanding of it.

• They still live with their parents, so their parents will influence their opinion.

Reasons why 16 year olds should be allowed to vote-

• 16 year olds who work and pay taxes have no control as to how the money raised from their taxes is spent.

• They already have the right to do so many things- have a sexual relationship and child and leave school.

• It will inspire young people to get involved with democracy.

• It will empower them to make decisions that will effect their future.

Does the UK Democratic system need reform?

Yes because First Past the Post doesn’t actually include millions of people, meaning that people’s political views aren’t heard.

Positives and negatives of digital democracy.

Pros- people can voice their opinion in an informal way, will encourage more people to participate, make voting easier, and encourage young people.

Cons- The process would become compromised with an increase in electoral fraud and even hacking which would jeopardise the secret ballot, there is also the issue that people in the UK don’t all have reliable internet connection.

What is electoral reform?

Where the electoral systems we use to help the public express their desires in elections are improved.

Positives and negatives of electoral reform.

Pros- More proportionate, stops tactical voting, stops conflict as its more proportional, it is likely to create a government which has a majority.

Cons- FPTP means that an MP can win with as little as 35% of the vote, many do not vote as they see no point, and with the FPTP system if you don’t vote for the winner in your constituency then your vote is wasted.

Compulsory voting positives and negatives-

Pros- elections will have a much higher turnout, people will want to know more about the issues which they are voting for and consequences- begin to engage more with the wider political process, social media can ensure every voter is given factual information about the upcoming elections.

Cons- People are fined for not voting, there is little evidence to suggest that compulsory voting has led to increased levels of political engagement, it is undemocratic.

List some problems with democracy in the UK in the 19th century

• Not many people could vote, especially women.

• It was the same kind of people who were elected and this encouraged classism.

• No education on politics.

• MPs were elected too young.

• Government didn’t like the monarchy.

• Un-paid MPs.

• Open ballot so people were influenced by peoples decisions.

Why were there movements to improve 19th century democracy?

• Only about 3% of the UK could vote.

• In some boroughs only men could vote.

• Sometimes tiny villages could have two MPs- rotten boroughs.

• Elections were infrequent.

Why have people increasingly joined pressure groups?

• Worldwide influence.

• Sense of community.

• To educate people.

• Legal representation.

What is partisan Dealignment?

When you don’t have a party that you feel represents you.

What do Trade Unions do?

They use their connections to influence party policy. This can be effective if the party is in government- not opposition. They fluctuate between insider and outsider status.

What forms can direct action take?

• Strikes

• Protest marches

• Boycotts

• Blockades

• Property damage

Why do some pressure groups have more influence than others?

Insiders have access to policy makers and therefore have better success, however insider status isn’t guaranteed success. Some pressure groups have more public support, better tactics, better resources and insider status.

Why are pressure groups with a campaign aligned with public opinion more likely to have success?

Because the government monitors public opinion on major issues and they are always considering election season in weighing up policy decisions. The Snowdrop Campaign is a good example of this as the temporary group banned the ownership of hand guns to prevent more tragedies.

What is the Bow groups goal and have they been influential? (think tank)

• They aim to advocate the philosophy of conservatism in Britain and throughout the world via their programme of events, conferences, research and papers. The group offers an intellectual home to conservatism as a community and as a forum to discuss and promote their ideas.

• The group has been a direct influence on government policy and the life of the Nation.

What’s the Institute for public policy research’s goals and have they been influential? (think tank)

• To promote research into and the education of the public in the economic, social and political sciences and in science technology, the voluntary sector and social enterprise.

• In 1992 the think tank published the highly influential report of the commission on social justice.