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Which institutional feature most directly affects influence over committee membership — the extent of Parliament's influence on government decisions, including party discipline, Select Committee access to civil servants and Whips' influence over committee membership? Use the relevant political concepts and evidence from The structure and role of Parliament.
- A.Define pressure-group influence, compare the UK and USA through UK pressure groups often target ministers, Parliament and consultation, whereas US groups also use Congress, federal courts and campaign finance routes, test evidence, then judge how far institutional access changes which lobbying method is effective.
- B.Define pressure-group influence, then write two separate country descriptions with no connection.
- C.Start with a judgement and omit the institutional evidence.
- D.Assume pressure groups and political parties perform the same representative function and avoid evaluating the difference.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The correct answer is Define pressure-group influence, compare the UK and USA through UK pressure groups often target ministers, Parliament and consultation, whereas US groups also use Congress, federal courts and campaign finance routes, test evidence, then judge how far institutional access changes which lobbying method is effective.
Explanation
Why this works
Define pressure-group influence, compare the UK and USA through UK pressure groups often target ministers, Parliament and consultation, whereas US groups also use Congress, federal courts and campaign finance routes, test evidence, then judge how far institutional access changes which lobbying method is effective. This is correct because the structure links AO1 knowledge, AO2 comparison and AO3 judgement to pressure-group influence.
Apply insider access, outsider campaigning, lobbying, consultation, congressional committees, litigation and campaign finance precisely. UK pressure groups often target ministers, Parliament and consultation, whereas US groups also use Congress, federal courts and campaign finance routes.
A structural viewpoint emphasises formal rules; however, a rational or cultural viewpoint may explain how actors use those rules. Overall, judge the evidence from a named campaign, consultation, court case, congressional hearing or lobbying route and explain whether institutional access changes which lobbying method is effective for "Analyse and evaluate the extent of Parliament's influence on government decisions, including party discipline, Select Committee access to civil servants and Whips' influence over committee membership.".
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