Statistics for Politics: UK Pressure Groups - Definitions with Pros & Cons

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General Stats

This quiz has been taken 7 times
(6 since last reset)
The average score is 9 of 22

Answer Stats

Answer	Hint	% Correct
RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, 2015)	This interest group successfully utilised their 500,000 members for its 'Big Garden Birdwatch'	100%
Coalition for Marriage	This outsider interest group failed in their campaign against legal recognition of gay marriage because public opinion was in favour of it (example of the goals of a group acting against public opinion)	67%
FOREST	This pro-smoking interest group failed to prevent government restrictions on smoking because it lost out to 'ASH' who supported the restrictions (example of pressure group failure to due countervailing forces)	67%
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and ALF (Animal Liberation Front)	These often violent groups fail to achieve their goals because the public oppose their methods even if they support the ideals (example of a group alienating the public)	67%
Prisoner Groups	They find it difficult to break-away from ‘Insider Status’ as they are reliant on government funding or because they are also ‘public bodies.’ This group incorporates ‘Historic England’ whose main aim is to conserve and preserve historic buildings across the UK. Hence, they promote ‘preservation’ rather than seek to implement ‘new ideas.’	67%
British Bankers Association (2012)	This insider interest group used their wealth to successfully pay lobbyists to persuade ministers to cut Corporation Tax and taxes on banks overseas subsidiaries	33%
Conservative Government (2015-)	This Government was determined to introduce new policies for a 7 day NHS, which meant, as their goal contradicted a government policy, the insider interest group, the British Medical Association's (BMA) campaign against the proposal has largely failed	33%
Core Insiders	Example is the 'National Farmers Union', they have a longstanding ‘bilateral’ relationship with policy-makers over a broad range of issues	33%
Corporations	These groups work closely with government to develop practical legislation. They are consulted by governments on certain policy ideas to check they are practical and also to implement key proposals. They look to exert pressure over those in charge to gain advantage - employing lobbyists, threats to re-locate their business, threats to relocate their 'Head Office' from London to an alternative capital city. Large examples of these include: HSBC, Ford and Burberry. They campaigned for the UK to remain in the EU. A minority of these, such as Dyson, campaigned for the UK to leave the EU	33%
Howard League for Penal Reform (2014)	This insider group successfully campaigned to end the ban on prisoners receiving books sent to them by family and friends	33%
Insider Group	This group has close ties and contact with Government (for example, Confederation of British Industry)	33%
Interest Group	Also known as 'sectional' groups, seek to advance the specific interests of their members (for example, Trade Unions, like National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers). Have closed membership, tend to be motivated by self-interest	33%
Joanna Lumley and the Gurkha Justice Campaign (2009)	Through the successful use of celebrity endorsement, equal rights were secured for British and Commonwealth soldiers	33%
Lobbyists	This is the process of meeting with key political figures and trying to get them to support your aims - very big business in the US, also quite vibrant in the UK. The profession firms of this employ people who have contacts with, and access to, key political figures. Corporations and other groups use this method to gain this level of success. This is because face to face meetings with senior politicians brings a personal touch to campaigning and if one should decide to represent your interests it can give your group a distinct advantage	33%
Outsider Group	Lack strong, established links to Government, often more 'radical' and favour 'direct action', like stunts/protests (for example, Extinction Rebellion, Black Lives Matter). Some of these pressure groups choose to be this way by choice, such as 'Liberty and Amnesty International', who choose to stay outside government and establishment circles in order to maintain their ‘independence’ which enables them to ‘critique’ government policy and to actively avoid losing their ‘neutrality and objectivity’	33%
Peripheral Insiders	They are consulted by government on rare occasions due to the ‘nature of their cause’. A good example here is ‘SANDS’ (Still birth and Neo-natal Death Society)	33%
Promotional Group	Also known as 'causal' groups, seek to achieve a 'specific set of aims' (such as a value, ideal or principle) that are not in the direct 'self interest' of their members. Have open membership - anyone can join	33%
Specialist Insiders	Example is the 'British Meat and Poultry Federation’, which is consulted by government on matters pertaining to that sector of the farming industry	33%
Stop the War Coalition (2003)	This outsider group organised mass rallies to stop the invasion of Iraq. However, with cross-party support in Parliament, the Blair Government was able to resist the measure (example of the government resisting pressure from the group)	33%
The AA (The Automobile Association, 2016)	This interest group successfully used its expertise to provide evidence and statistics to persuade the government to increase the penalties for using a mobile phone while driving	33%
The RMT Union (National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, 2012)	This outsider interest group successfully used its organisation for a series of strikes to secure a bonus for members during the Olympics	33%
Think Tanks	This type of group is formed particularly to formulate and develop policy in a specific area. Based on focused and academic research rather than partisan ideals. Usage of them grew under premiership of Blair, but weren't widely supported by party membership. Privately funded (example: Adam Smith Institute), attempt to influence government into adopting their policy goals, but rely on working with the government of the day or aligning themselves with a particular party, rather than populist campaigns	33%