Pressure Groups And Other Influences

Question 1

Describe sectional pressure groups

Answer 1

Promotes interests of a particular section of society usually same jobs etc
Tend to have closed membership
Act in best interest of members

Question 2

Describe casual pressure groups

Answer 2

Promote a value, ideal or principle
Often one that doesn’t directly affect members
Easy to join, open membership
Aim to improve society

Question 3

Describe insider status

Answer 3

Special relationship with government
= given access to officials and decision making

Question 4

Describe outsider status

Answer 4

No close links
= must do activities to generate attention from press etc
= put pressure on government for change

Question 5

Describe lobbyists

Answer 5

Organisations that are paid by clients to gain access to government
Staffed by people with political expertise
Sold to highest bidder

Question 6

Describe think tanks

Answer 6

Groups that have specific purpose of formulating and developing policy ideas through research
Provide alternative to public to help educate on parties, electorate etc
Give advice to government
Work on interests of finders

Question 7

Pros and cons of think tanks

Answer 7

• educate public on electorate
• provide impartial advice to government
  = decisions in interest if the nation
• can undermine democratic process
• can publish poor quality reports to public
  = public believe false ‘facts’

Question 8

Pros and cons of lobbyists

Answer 8

• access to government to help develop and inform policy making
• staffed with political expertise
• creates elitist environment where access is due to highest bidder

Question 9

Pros and cons of cooperations

Answer 9

• work closely to government
• large audience and members
• use position to gain benefits from government and act in own interests

Question 10

Pros of pressure groups

Answer 10

• insider status links to government
• large membership as control large section of electorate
• financial resources allow to pay to promote their cause
• effective management group to reach and maximise their goals
• groups with expertise in policies will be listened to and respected by governor and public

Question 11

Cons of pressure groups

Answer 11

• goal contradicts government policy= difficult to persuade to change policy
• government have strong position to resist pressure groups
• groups may campaign against each other
• goals of group may act against popular opinion

Question 12

Pressure group tactics for success

Answer 12

• insider status= links to government
• large membership= control large section of electorate
• group that has expertise in particular policy will be listened to and respected
• effective management to maximise resources to reach goals

Question 13

Pressure groups tactics for failure

Answer 13

• goal contradicts gov policy= hard for group to persuade gov change
• gov are in strong position to resist group and ignore it
• groups may campaign against each other
• goals could go against popular public opinion= gov more inclined to popular feelings of public