Pressure Groups

Question 1

Pressure Group definition:

Answer 1

A pressure group is an organised group of people that aims to influence the policies or actions of government, without seeking to gain office.

Question 2

Functions of Pressure Groups?

Answer 2

• Provide a form of representation
• Method of political participation, 40-50% of the UK population is a member of at least one PG
• Education through raising awareness of issues
• Policy formation/ implementation e.g. National Farmers’ Union works with the Department for Rural Affairs to implement policies relating to farming/ agriculture

Question 3

Insider pressure groups?

Answer 3

These are groups regularly consulted by the government, with regular access to government ministers e,g, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

Question 4

Outsider pressure groups?

Answer 4

These are groups with no links/ access to government. They have to use other ways to have an impact, for example using the media or trying to influence public opinion e.g. the Animal Liberation Front.

Question 5

Interest/ sectional groups?

Answer 5

• Also known as sectional groups as they represent ‘sections’ of society e.g. Trade Unions. Membership is linked to a particular occupation/ part of society.
  -Examples include:
  National Union of Teachers
  Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
  British Medical Association (BMA)

Question 6

Causal/ promotional groups?

Answer 6

• Also known as promotional groups because they seek to promote a particular cause e.g. charities and environmental groups. Anyone can join these groups.
• Examples include:
  Amnesty International
  Greenpeace
  Electoral Reform Society

Question 7

38 Degrees?

Answer 7

38 Degrees is an example of a wide ‘umbrella’ group which uses social media and other tactics to attempt to effect change. The group was set up in 2009 and has around 2.5million members.
- The group organises online e-petitions and is a good example of the success of social media in pressuring govts.
- Notable success includes stopping the privatisation of England’s forests

Question 8

Methods used by Pressure Groups?

Answer 8

• Ministers/ Civil servants: Groups such as the CBI/ BMA will often consult with minsters - dependent upon insider status.
• Parliament: Lobbying of MPs, writing to them to raise issues, or initiate Private Members’ Bills - usually used by outsider groups.
• Political Parties: Development of links with parties e.g. Trade Unions and Labour Party - Example includes 2010 Ed Miliband becoming LP leader.
• Public Opinion: Seen in recent years thru organisation of public protests against student tuition fees and cuts to welfare budget.
• Direct Action: Strikes, blockades and boycotts e.g. Teacher/ Doctor/ Rail strikes 2022/23.
• The Courts: Attempts to challenge govt policy on legal grounds, through use of judicial review e.g. Protesters against HS2 took their argument to the Supreme Court in 2014.

Question 9

Hacked Off case study?

Answer 9

• 2011
• Campaigning for tougher regulation of the media/ newspapers after a dead teenage girl’s phone was hacked by the newspapers.
• Methods Used:
  Going to party conference
  Going on TV shows
  Meeting the PM
  Documentary

Question 10

BMA strike?

Answer 10

• Strike organised by the BMA 12-16th Sept 2016
• 100 000 operations cancelled and 1million appointments