pressure groups

Question 1

what are pressure groups?

Answer 1

groups of like-minded individuals who come together on the basis of shared interests or a commonly held cause

Question 2

how do they differ from parties

Answer 2

-only want to influence the government
-narrow policy interests
-not inherently political
- do not fight elections (bma)

Question 3

sectional/interest

Answer 3

represent a specific section of society
-concerned with material interests such as economic interests
-business organisations, professional associations, trade unions
e.g. British medical association and transport and general workers.

Question 4

promotional/cause

Answer 4

pursue a cause which is essentially political
-member not limited to particular organisations
-interests: charity’s, leisure, education religion, youth etc
e.g. amnesty international

Question 5

problems with the ‘aims’

Answer 5

-more useful to look at the status rather than the nature
- national education union campaign for the interest but they also campaign for reform in schools to increase the benefit for school kids (cause).

Question 6

insider groups

Answer 6

-groups with easy access to government officials and decision making bodies
-mainstream interests in society
-consulted in policy making interests
-legally entitled to consultation on issues ( national farmers union in the annual farm prices review)

Question 7

outsider groups

Answer 7

-no easy access to decision makers
-may move from outsider to insider such as environmental groups in the 1980s
-not all desire the status of an outsider for fear of being domesticated
-

Question 8

problems with ‘status’

Answer 8

-can ignore that they can operate as both
-influence can fluctuate
e.g. national farmers unions insider status after growing EU control over agricultural policy