Pressure groups

Question 1

What are 4 types of pressure groups?

Answer 1

Insider groups
Outsider groups
Interest groups
Promotional groups

Question 2

Insider groups

Answer 2

Pressure groups that have close ties and contacts with government. They often represent either powerful, well-resourced groups.

Question 3

Outsider groups

Answer 3

Pressure groups that lack strong established links with government. They often represent more marginalised or radical policy agendas and frequently use direct action to publicise their aims

Question 4

Promotional groups

Answer 4

Pressure groups that are sometimes termed casual groups and set out to achieve a specific set of aims that are not in the direct self -interest of their members

Question 5

What are lobbyists?

Answer 5

Firms hired to help target a group’s message as effectively as possible

Question 6

What are corporations?

Answer 6

Big businesses that are especially in contact and consultation with government and it’s departments for example Shell

Question 7

What are think tanks?

Answer 7

Organisations set up to undertake policy research and development which in turn is published and positions used to push certain policy

Question 8

How do pressure groups get in contact with MPs?

Answer 8

First, the pressure group lobbies or gets in contact with a lobbyist by paying a certain amount of money. Secondly, the lobbyist influences an MP so they can vote based on how the lobbyist asked them to. The lobbyist gains favours from the clients who are the pressure groups

Question 9

What are sectional groups?

Answer 9

Pressure groups that seek to advance or protect the interests of their members. They usually have closed membership.

Question 10

What is pluralist interpretation of pressure groups?

Answer 10

The interpretation is that pressure groups are an essential part of democracy as they allow different sections of society to be heard by government. Pressure groups allow people to focus on one issue that concerns them (e.g. the environment), although that might not be their prime concern in an election. Governments must be held to account for things that do not win elections but which still matter

Question 11

What is elitist interpretation of pressure groups?

Answer 11

The interpretation is that pressure groups are undemocratic: they give a louder voice to the most powerful. Rich, uneducated and well-connected people are better able to form influential pressure groups than the poor and disadvantaged, and can afford to hire expensive lobbyists and lawyers

Question 12

3 types of outsider groups

Answer 12

Potential insiders
Outsiders by necessity
Outsiders by choice