Pressure groups

Question 1

What is a pressure group

Answer 1

A pressure group can be defined as a membership-based association whose aim is to influence policy-making without seeking power.
They have a common desire to influence government.

Question 2

What are the functions of pressure groups?

Answer 2

• To represent and promote the interests of certain sections of the community who feel they are not fully represented by parties and parliament.
• To protect the interests of minority groups.
• To promote certain causes that have been adequately taken up by political parties.
• To inform and educate the public on key political issues.
• Hold the government to account over its performance in a particular policy.

Question 3

Causal groups

Answer 3

Causal group seek to promote a particular cause, and covert it into government action or legislation.
For example…
- Greenpeace
- Friends of the earth
- Liberty
- Unlock democracy
- PETA

Question 4

Sectional/interest groups

Answer 4

These groups represent a particular section of the community in the UK, they are self interested and serve the interests of their own members.
For example…
- Age UK
- British Medical Association
- Taxpayers alliance

Question 5

Trade Unions

Answer 5

These are the main kind of interest group, for example the National Education Trade Union represents 450,000 steachers and education workers.

Question 6

Insider groups

Answer 6

Insider groups are those that are consulted on a regular basis by the government, they operate ‘inside’ the decision making proccess.
- They seek to involve themselves in the early stages of policy making.
FOR EXAMPLE The National Farmers union have advised the government on committes the government creates to formulate policy and legislation.

Question 7

Outsider groups

Answer 7

These are groups that do not employ a special position with governing circles, this is because they wish to maintain their indpendance from the government.
They therefore extert their influence via mass media, public opinion campaigns and protest politics.

Question 8

Lobbying

Answer 8

The ways in which groups seek to promote their cause or interest depend on some extent on the access point available to them, insider groups sit on policy making committes.

Lobying promotes causes and interests through organising gatherings at parliament or council offices, seeking direct meetings with decision makers including minsiters and councillors.

Question 9

Think Tanks

Answer 9

These are groups of experts who provide advice, ideas and policy proposals on political, economic and social issues, they build evidence and information and attempt to shape policy.
For example…
- The Insitute of Economic Affairs is a free market think tank that is ‘entirely indpendant from a political party or group’.

Question 9

Think Tanks

Answer 9

These are groups of experts who provide advice, ideas and policy proposals on political, economic and social issues, they build evidence and information and attempt to shape policy.
For example…
- The Insitute of Economic Affairs is a free market think tank that is ‘entirely indpendant from a political party or group’.

Question 10

Corporations

Answer 10

They do not vote in elections however they are argued to have signifcant impact on democratic societites, corporations such as Tesco and Shell are so vital in running the economy that is little wonder they expect to have a right to say in law making and regulation.