1.3 - Pressure Groups and Other Influences

Question 1

What is a pressure group?

Answer 1

A group seeking to influence government policy to secure the interests of their members and supporters.

Question 2

What is the difference between a pressure group and a movement?

Answer 2

Pressure Group - Formal Organisation and Structure

Movement - Loosely organised, more of an idea than an organisation. Wider goals (The Occupy Movement is widely anti-capitalist as an idea)

They are still similar however, as pressure groups can evolve from social movements.

Question 3

What are main classifications of pressure groups?

Answer 3

Sectional groups
Cause Groups
Social Movements

Question 4

What do cause or promotional groups seek to do?

Answer 4

Promote issues of interest to its members and supporters in relation to a particular topic.

Greenpeace - Promotes environmental issues.

Question 5

What do sectional or interest groups seek to do?

Answer 5

Seek to protect the interest of members.

CBI - Represents interests of business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Question 6

What do single cause groups seek to do?

Answer 6

Have a solid focus on a singular issue.

CND - Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

Question 7

What do multi-cause groups seek to do?

Answer 7

Focus their attention on a wider range of issues under a generalised heading.

Trade Unions - Influence policy in relation to workers: pensions, insurance etc.

Question 8

What is an insider group?

Answer 8

Groups that the government may choose to consult. They will listen to their opinions.

NFU (National Farmer’s Union) are queried on food prices etc.

Question 9

What is an outsider group?

Answer 9

Groups that cannot be seen to be influencing the government.

Question 10

What determines where a group is insider or outsider?

Answer 10

Their methods. (or the current government)

If an insider group is aligned (formally or informally) with the government then they are more likely to become insider groups.

It’s just a classification rather than a formal thing.

Question 11

How do pressure groups take indirect action?

Answer 11

Publicity
Leaflets
Petitions
Providing Research on aspects of policy

Question 12

How do pressure groups take direct action?

Answer 12

Illegal Direct Action
Lobbying
Protest
Boycotts
Civil Disobedience

Question 13

What are the two actions that pressure groups can take?

Answer 13

Direct
Indirect

Question 14

What are the types of Illegal Direct Action?

Answer 14

Terrorism
Violence
Criminal Damage

Question 15

Why do some pressure groups have more influence than others?

Answer 15

Some groups have more leverage than others. (i.e. holding the economy hostage) (road hauliers and farmers spearheading a movement to blockade oil refineries, so tax on fuel would fall.)

Resources Available - Volunteers, people donating money to the cause etc.
Tactics / Leadership - RSPCA secured the ban on hunting dogs in 2004 by collaborating with two similar groups.
Public Support - If the public are aligned with the cause, it becomes much easier to influence government as a result.
Government Attitudes - Insider contacts with government ministers and civil servants allow a major key to success for pressure groups.

Question 16

What is a think tank?

Answer 16

‘Ideas Factories’, with dedicated individuals who are head-hunted from academia.

Their sole job is to devise policy suggestions, with most therefore having a political leaning.

Question 17

What is an example of a very successful single cause group?

Answer 17

ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) - added the labelling to cigarette packaging and lobbied for bans on smoking in cars (with children present) and tubes etc.