TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > Politics > Edexcel AS Politics Unit 1
Pressure groups
- Like minded people organised to influence government
- do NOT stand for election - only influence government decisions
- narrow/one issue focus
- smaller political parties (such as BNP, SWP, Greens) often considered pressure groups
- Intrinsically linked with political parties (e.g. Trade Unions in the Labour Party)
- Some pressure groups have wider focus - CBI - interested in many policy matters
Sectional pressure groups
- Act on behalf of a particular part of society - examples CBI, British Medical Associaton, Trade Union Congress
Promotional pressure groups
- To promote a particular cause - examples CND, Greenpeace, Shelter, Amnesty International
Insider groups
- Strong links with decision makers - powerful - sectional groups more likely to be insiders
Outsider groups
- Excluded by government either because of their own choice or because they are unacceptable - e.g. - IRA considered terrorist organisation
- Changes between outsider/insider - TUC was influential under Labour in the 1970s but not Conservatives
The Party System in Britain
It is often argued that Britain has a two party system, a three party system and a dominant party system
- Two party system: Either Labour or Conservatives in government since 1945
- Three party system: Lib Dems serious contenders - 23% of the vote in 2005
- Dominant party system: Conservatives in government 1979-1997, Labour in government 1997-to date
Political party
- A group of like minded people organised to gain political power to govern the country
- Focus on a wider range of issues to implement changes when in government
- In democracies, parties propose candidate for election.
- Represent the electorate in politics
- In Britain, political parties dominant both government and elections.
- Parties also recruit the personnel of government.
- Political parties make it possible for voters to hold governments accountable. If they feel the government has failed to live up to its party's election promises, or to display proper standards of competence and integrity, they can vote for an opposiiton party.
- The party is essentially a link between the citizen and the state; party is one of the devices which makes possible citizen influence on the policies of government.
- British parliamentary politics is Adversary politics. Two large and disciplined parties confront each other across the despatch box in the House of Commons. At the end of the debate, Members divide, usually joined by those who often have not heard a word of the debate.
- Rebellion in the division lobbies is more common than it was 40 years ago but conformity to party remains the norm for Members.
- Adversary politics is a term borrowed from the courts of law. The parties engage in what may seem mortal, if to some eyes sham, combat.
- A party spokesman acts like a prosecuting counsel or defending barrister, putting the most powerful case that he can, irrespective of any reservations or doubts he may feel in private.
- The spirit of adversary politics does not necessarily carry with it the connotation that the parties are divided by a deep ideological gulf.
- Adversary politics is as compatible with parties whose differences are shallow and transitory as it is with parties separated by acute doctrinal cleavages.
Conservatives
Labour
- government intervention (i.e. nationalised industry)
- high public spending.
Liberal Democrats
- formed by a fusion of the old Liberal party with the SDP, a breakaway from Labour.
- share the free market sentiments of the Conservatives
- favour bigger spending on social welfare
- agree with higher taxes.
- Commitment to Europe. The most consistent champions of British involvement with the European Union.
Referendums
- A vote in which the electorate can express their view about a particular issue of public policy
- An instrument of direct democracy - in the UK, we have indirect democracy exercised through elections
- advisory referendum - the governing body to find out the opinion of the electorate on a certain issue.
- binding refendum - the governing body is bound by its result - e.g. EU constitution or single currency.
- Referendums in the UK have been constitutional - (1975 membership of the EU, 1998, Devolution to Scotland and Wales 1999 London Mayor)
The electoral system
- Current system is FPTP (First Past The Post) somtimes called SMP (Single Member Plurality). This system generally produces strong governments with large majorities in the UK but systematically is not guaranteed to do so. It is beneficial to the Labour Party and parties with regional support but doesn't represent parties with broad support but few areas of concentration well.
- Those who argue for it argue that:
- it produces strong government.
- it would cost a lot to change.
- PR produces coalitions and as such, weak and ineffective governments.
- those who support it are those who stand to gain from it.
- it maintains constituency link.
- PR is a label that covers a broad array of electoral systems. I did this course last year, so I don't remember them so well. Someone else should probably give their notes.
- I do remember that it's AMS in Scotland and the London Assembly, STV in Northern Ireland, Closed Party List in the European elections and FPTP in the national elections.
- Some figures -> in 2005, Labour won 100 more seats in England despite receiving less votes. The Liberal Democrats recieved 62 seats when proportionally they were eligible for 150. The Labour Party have 65% of the parliamentary seats with 36% of the popular vote and just 22% of the votes of the electorate.
Closed Party Lists
- E.G. - British MEP elections
- Broadly PR - no candidate choice.
1999 Results:
- Labour 35% - 40% seats - top 4 candidates
- Conservative 33% - 40% seats - top 4 candidates
- Lib Dem 12% - 10% seats - top party candidate
- Green 8% - 10% seats - top party candidate
Supplementary Voting
- E.G. - London Mayor elections
- 2 preferences - first choice, second choice.
- 50% votes needed for winning candidate
- first and second choices added up to reach 50% vote
- votes are not "wasted".
Comments
These notes are aimed at people studying for Edexcel A Level Politics unit 1, but will be suitable for other people too.
Originally submitted by Socrates on TSR Forums.
