Pressure groups

Question 1

What is a pressure group?

Answer 1

A membership-based association who aims to influence policy without gaining power

Question 2

What sections of society do pressure groups often represent?

Answer 2

Those who feel insufficiently represented by parties and parliament

Question 3

Who do pressure groups often protect the interests of?

Answer 3

Minority groups

Question 4

What type of causes do pressure groups often promote?

Answer 4

Those not adequetely taken up by political parties

Question 5

What do pressure groups often do for the public?

Answer 5

Inform and educate them about key political issues

Question 6

What do pressure groups often do to the government?

Answer 6

Hold it accountable over performance in particular policy areas

Question 7

How can pressure groups influence and inform policy?

Answer 7

By passing key information to government

Question 8

What do pressure groups give citizens the opportunity to do?

Answer 8

Politically participate in a way that isn’t voting or joining a party

Question 9

How do pressure groups aid pluralist democracy?

Answer 9

• 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

Question 10

What is a causal group?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What is a sectional group?

Answer 11

Has an identifiable membership or supporting group. Represent a section of society and are largely self-interested

Question 12

Give three examples of causal groups operating in the UK

Answer 12

• Greenpeace
• Friends of the door
• Liberty

Question 13

Give three examples of prominent sectional groups in the UK

Answer 13

• Age UK
• British Medical Association
• Muslim Council of Britain

Question 14

List the features of causal groups

Answer 14

• 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

Question 15

Outline the features of sectional groups

Answer 15

• Largely self-interested
• Seek insider status
• Use the ‘responsible’ parliamentary route to influence
• Usually have a formal membership

Question 16

What are insider groups?

Answer 16

Those with especially close links to decision makers at all levels

Question 17

What do insider groups seek to become involved in?

Answer 17

The early stages of policy and law making. This means decision makers often consult them for their expertise and information

Question 18

What will insider groups often employ?

Answer 18

Lobbyists whose job it is to gain access to decision makers and make a high quality presentation for their case

Question 19

What are sectional groups often called to do?

Answer 19

Testify before parliamentary comittees. They attend mainly to give advice and information, but it also provides an opportunity for some long-term influence

Question 20

What are outsider groups?

Answer 20

Those that do not enjoy special influence within decision making circles

Question 21

What are the two reasons why an outsider group may lack direct links to government?

Answer 21

• Because decision makers don’t want to be seen as to close to them
• Because the group wants to maintain its influence from government

Question 22

Give an example of an outsider group so violent the government wishes not to associate with it

Answer 22

The Animal Liberation Front

Question 23

What will outsider groups usually also be?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

What methods do outsider groups use?

Answer 24

Typically public campaigning, but they have recently begun using the media to reach a large proportion of the population quickly

Question 25

How do outsider groups typically look to influence government?

Answer 25

By demonstating that public opinion is on their side

Question 26

Why do outsiders have greater freedom in the methods they can use?

Answer 26

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