pressure groups

Question 1

how do pressure groups work?

Answer 1

• aim to influence policies and political decisions/change public attitudes
• have a narrowly focused aim/goal which is shared with pressure group members

Question 2

insider groups

Answer 2

• have regular contact with decision makers and so are able to work ‘inside’ the system
• they are often consulted on specific policy issues by government departments, MPs, political parties and committees

Question 3

privileged insider group access?

Answer 3

• insider group privileged access may be based on the view that they are regarded as more moderate than other pressure groups
• insider groups need to keep the government on their side, so tend not to make extreme demands
• involve working closely with those in the political system rather than more extreme methods

Question 4

examples of insider groups

Answer 4

• NICE (national institute for health care and excellence) work with the government to create policy around healthcare and the NHS
• national farmers union (NFU) is regularly consulted by the government
• the taxpayers alliance has close links to the conservative party

Question 5

outsider groups

Answer 5

• bot consulted by the government, do not have direct and regular contact with decision makers
• aim to gain support of the public opinion
• undertake method of influencing policy which involve working ‘outside’ the political system

Question 6

examples of outsider groups

Answer 6

• Fathers4justice campaign for fathers to have equal rights after separation
• plane stupid is a pressure group against the expansion of UK airports

Question 7

sectional groups

Answer 7

• represent a specific section of society
  -do not campaign for broader issues
• concerned with protecting and advancing the interests of their members

Question 8

examples of sectional groups

Answer 8

• house builders federation represents the voice of the house building industry
• British medical association represents 160,000 doctors

Question 9

promotional groups

Answer 9

• promotional or cause groups have a single issue which they are concerned with promoting
• promote ideas that don’t directly benefit their members but will benefit the public as a whole
• more inclusive as they aim to have a bigger membership base

Question 10

examples of promotional groups

Answer 10

• stop HS2 want to stop the building of the 2nd high-speed rain line in the UK
• Greenpeace wish to end destruction of the environment

Question 11

insider influence - direct access to decision makers

Answer 11

• can directly argue for their cause
• governments sometimes consult certain pressure groups because of their expertise
• the government can use pressure groups to assess the reaction o affected groups to potential government policies

Question 12

insider influence - lobbying

Answer 12

• pressure groups can try to influence through hiring lobbyists who are individuals that work to put pressure on the government and influence them

Question 13

insider influence - influencing MPs

Answer 13

• pressure groups try to influence MPs in the HOC and members of select committees to make sure interests are represented in the bills, debates and law-making
• groups may also try to influence members of the HOL when the chambers debating and proposing bill revisions

Question 14

outsider influence - protests

Answer 14

• use legal forms of protesting with the aim of gaining publicity and support to win over public opinion
• can put pressure on decision makers and often used by outsider groups
• e.g. Father4justice marched outside former PM David Camron’s home in 2011 to demonstrate their anger

Question 15

outsider influence - direct action

Answer 15

• form of political protest that can involve civil disobedience, illegal methods or violence
• aim is to raise the profile of pressure groups to cause attraction
• e.g. the animal liberation front has carried out attacks on homes of people with connections to animal testing

Question 16

factors effecting pressure groups

Answer 16

• public support; popular campaigns that play on public desires, fears or contemporary issues are more likely to gather attention
• membership size; large groups can demonstrate how the issue effects a significant portion of population
• access to decision makers - increase likelihood of changing political opinions
• resources; larger groups have more people to campaign for them and pay membership fees