Pressure groups Flashcards
What is a pressure group?
A membership-based association who aims to influence policy without gaining power
What sections of society do pressure groups often represent?
Those who feel insufficiently represented by parties and parliament
Who do pressure groups often protect the interests of?
Minority groups
What type of causes do pressure groups often promote?
Those not adequetely taken up by political parties
What do pressure groups often do for the public?
Inform and educate them about key political issues
What do pressure groups often do to the government?
Hold it accountable over performance in particular policy areas
How can pressure groups influence and inform policy?
By passing key information to government
What do pressure groups give citizens the opportunity to do?
Politically participate in a way that isn’t voting or joining a party
How do pressure groups aid pluralist democracy?
- By ensuring an active and informed citizenry
- By giving the public a wide range of options by picking up issues parties don’t
- Raising awareness of issues to ensure all sections of society are heard and considered in the political process
What is a causal group?
Promote a particular cause/set of beliefs/values. Seek to promote favourable legislation, avoid unfavourable legislation or simply bring an issue into the political agenda
What is a sectional group?
Has an identifiable membership or supporting group. Represent a section of society and are largely self-interested
Give three examples of causal groups operating in the UK
- Greenpeace
- Friends of the door
- Liberty
Give three examples of prominent sectional groups in the UK
- Age UK
- British Medical Association
- Muslim Council of Britain
List the features of causal groups
- Altruistically serve the whole community, rather than just their own members or supporters
- Concentrate on mobilising public opinion to put pressure on goverment
- Use direct action such as civil disobedience, public demonstrations and interent campaigns
- Seek widespread support
Outline the features of sectional groups
- Largely self-interested
- Seek insider status
- Use the ‘responsible’ parliamentary route to influence
- Usually have a formal membership
What are insider groups?
Those with especially close links to decision makers at all levels
What do insider groups seek to become involved in?
The early stages of policy and law making. This means decision makers often consult them for their expertise and information
What will insider groups often employ?
Lobbyists whose job it is to gain access to decision makers and make a high quality presentation for their case
What are sectional groups often called to do?
Testify before parliamentary comittees. They attend mainly to give advice and information, but it also provides an opportunity for some long-term influence
What are outsider groups?
Those that do not enjoy special influence within decision making circles
What are the two reasons why an outsider group may lack direct links to government?
- Because decision makers don’t want to be seen as to close to them
- Because the group wants to maintain its influence from government
Give an example of an outsider group so violent the government wishes not to associate with it
The Animal Liberation Front
What will outsider groups usually also be?
Causal. This is because sectional groups with an identifiable membership and support base can be a useful ally in policy making, while promotional groups have less certain legitimacy
What methods do outsider groups use?
Typically public campaigning, but they have recently begun using the media to reach a large proportion of the population quickly
How do outsider groups typically look to influence government?
By demonstating that public opinion is on their side
Why do outsiders have greater freedom in the methods they can use?
They don’t need to follow standards acceptable to government, so are more likely to use measures like civil disobedience, mass strikes or publicity stunts
