Factors affecting pressure group success

Question 1

What four key variables are used to measure the success of a pressure group?

Answer 1

• Group aims
• Group resources
• Group status
• Group methods

Question 2

What is practical achievability?

Answer 2

The extent to which a group’s main goals are achievable in practice

Question 3

What is public receptivity?

Answer 3

The extent to which the general public are sympathetic to group aims

Question 4

Reasons pressure groups are good for democracy

Answer 4

• Natural desire for people to unite in furtherance of their interests
• Allow people to articulate and organise views between elections
• Provide avenue for participation
• Wider range of opinions than political parties
• Moderate views of extreme members
• Allow strength of opinions to be expressed
• Educate

Question 5

Reasons pressure groups are bad for democracy

Answer 5

• Lack legitimacy as low levels of internal democracy
• Quality of participation low
• Non-membership groups are usually fronts for wealthy business interests
• Do not compete on financial footing
• Usually more middle class
• Have effect on gov that is disproportionate to their size
• PG activity gets in way of joined up gov
• Most mislead rather than educate