Pressure Groups

Question 1

Elitism definition

Answer 1

Power is concentrated in the hands of a few

Question 2

Ideology definition

Answer 2

A set of opinions or beliefs shared by a group of people or an individual

Question 3

Insider pressure group definition

Answer 3

A pressure group that works inside the government, with the government

Question 4

Outsider pressure group definition

Answer 4

pressure groups with no special link with government but seek to influence decision makers by mobilising public opinion

Question 5

Partisan dealignment definition

Answer 5

People are relating less and less with political parties and instead they are becoming more involved with pressure groups

Question 6

Pressure group definition

Answer 6

An association that may be formal or informal, whose purposes is to further the interests of a specific section of society or to promote a particular cause by influencing the government, the public or both

Question 7

Promotional pressure group definition

Answer 7

A pressure group that seeks to promote a cause rather than the interests of its own members

Question 8

Sectional pressure group definition

Answer 8

A pressure group that represents a specific section of society and their views

Question 9

Direct action definition

Answer 9

The use of acts such as strikes, demonstrations and sabotage to achieve a political goal

Question 10

Functional representation definition

Answer 10

The function of associations, usually pressure groups, which represent specific sections of society based on occupation, age, gender, income, ethnicity, sexuality etc

Question 11

What is a pluralist democracy

Answer 11

A democracy where the demands and interests of many different groups in society are taken into consideration in policy making

Question 12

How is the UK a pluralistic democracy

Answer 12

Anyone can form a political party

People can become involved in democracy through pressure groups

Question 13

What is a new social movement

Answer 13

Broadly based, fairly informal movements that emerge, sometimes very rapidly, around a particular issue

Question 14

What are the characteristics of a new social movement

Answer 14

Appear on the political scene rapidly
Many thousands of instant followers
Concerned with a narrow range of issues or one issue
Often temporary
Methods are striking and flamboyant - e.g. Civil disobedience
Have lose informal organisation
Followers have an intense attachment to the issue/cause

Question 15

What are new social movement examples

Answer 15

Anti-pole tax federation
Peoples fuel lobby
Anti-Iraq war coalition

Question 16

What is an example of a sectional pressure group

Answer 16

Age UK
Confederation of British industry
National union of British students

Question 17

What is an example of a promotional pressure group

Answer 17

ASH

Friends of the earth

Question 18

What is an example of an insider pressure group

Answer 18

NFU

Question 19

What is an example of an outsider pressure group

Answer 19

Cancer research
Age UK
ASH

Question 20

How are pressure groups different from political parties

Answer 20

Political parties seek power, pressure groups don’t
Pressure groups have one focus/cause, political parties have many
Parties have official structures, pressure groups don’t
Pressure groups can be undemocratic - unelected leaders, party leaders are elected

Question 21

Why are pressure groups important

Answer 21

Partisan dealignment - give people something else to relate to
People are more educated and informed and may be more likely to join a pressure group due to partisan dealignment
Growing affluence means people have become more involved in political issues

Question 22

What methods are used by pressure groups

Answer 22

Direct action
Civil disobedience 
Lobbying ministers - persuading them
Advising ministers - usually insider groups
Taking a person or organisation to court

Question 23

Why are some pressure groups more successful than others

Answer 23

Wealth
Access to government
Celebrity endorsement
Some evolve into parties, e.g. UKIP

Question 24

How do pressure groups enhance pluralism

Answer 24

They disperse power
Ensure many groups are able to exert influence on government
Help protect minority interests
Balance the power of central government - Promote local issues

Question 25

How do pressure groups not enhance pluralism

Answer 25

Some pressure groups concentrate power in the hands of a few
Some pressure groups may have a disproportionate amount of power
Some pressure groups may not be democratic - unelected leaders
Influential insider groups may limit the access of smaller groups

Question 26

How do pressure groups enhance democracy

Answer 26

Represent small groups in society that may be ignored by government
They disperse power widely
Educate and inform the public on important issues
Help educate government ministers on policies
Provide ways for people to be involved in politics
Allow people to air their grievances
Help hold the government to account and shape legislation

Question 27

How do pressure groups hinder democracy

Answer 27

They can undermine the authority of the elected government
They may be concerned with their own interests only, not other views
Hyper pluralism - government can’t act because decisions are too slow
They are undemocratic and unaccountable
Commit acts of civil disobedience and direct action
Some wealthy pressure groups may exert more power than what is fair for their cause - bankers association

Question 28

What are the functions of pressure groups

Answer 28

Educate and inform
Help individual MPs
Functional representation

Question 29

What are the features of insider pressure groups

Answer 29

Work in the government - are consulted
Help to influence policies directly - can talk to MPs
Can’t commit crimes
Are accountable - must act responsibly
May lose independence - adopt the same policies as their political contacts

Question 30

What are the features of outsider pressure groups

Answer 30

Work outside of the government - not consulted
Use direct action to influence policies indirectly
Are unaccountable - can commit crimes
Don’t need to act responsibly
Little risk of losing independence

Question 31

What are the features of a pluralism democracy

Answer 31

Power is diapered - multi party system
Wide range of beliefs tolerated
Easy to become involved in pressure groups - e.g. through pressure groups
Lost of pressure groups with political powe, e.g. Green peace

Question 32

What are the features of an elitist democracy

Answer 32

Power is held by a few - e.g. a two or one party system
A wide range of beliefs and political views are not tolerated, e.g. Syria
People cannot easily vie one involved in politics
Few pressure groups that are very powerful, e.g. NFU - disproportional influence

Question 33

Dual-function pressure group definition

Answer 33

May be both sectional and promotional - some preform a service or set of services for their members as well as campaign within political systems on their behalf