Pressure Groups Flashcards
What is a pressure group?
A pressure group are groups who have a particular interest and try to influence the government by bringing matters they are interested in to their attention.
What is a sectional pressure group?
These groups are sometimes known as interest groups.
They are only open to certain individuals.
These groups protect the interests of their members.
They are usually insider groups.
What is a causal pressure group?
These groups are sometimes referred to as promotional groups.
They have open membership from the public.
They are concerned with a single issue or a broader long term objective.
They tend to be outsider groups.
What is the difference between insider and outsider groups?
Insider groups are often members of parliament and consulted by ministers but outsider groups are not.
What are the advantages of pressure groups?
They give the public and minority’s a voice.
They help MP’s stay in touch with what people think.
They help raise public awareness of issues.
The members have considerable amounts of expertise.
What are the disadvantages of pressure groups?
They are bias in favour of their interest/cause.
It is difficult for small groups to have influence.
The illegal methods make people uninterested in their cause.
They cause the government money for damage caused by pressure groups.
