Pressure Groups + Other Influences

Question 1

Pressure groups

Answer 1

A pressure group is an organised group of people that aims to influence the policies or actions of government

Question 2

Features of a pressure group

Answer 2

• They seek to exert influence from outside rather than to win or excessive government power

Question 3

Features of a pressure group

Answer 3

• They typically have a narrow issue focus. In some cases they may focus on a single issue (eg. Just stop oil)

Question 4

Features of a pressure group

Answer 4

Members are united by a shared belief or common set of interests. Parties, on the other hand, are united by, broadly, an ideological viewpoint

Question 5

Pressure groups can be defined in two ways:

Answer 5

1. By their aims (interest/ cause groups)
2. By their relationship with government (insider/ outsider groups)

Question 6

Interest (sectional) groups

Answer 6

A pressure group that exists to advance or protect the interests of its members.

• Membership is limited to people of a certain job/ career
• Members tend to be motivated by material self interest
• Benefit members only
• Examples - BMA (British medical association - doctors will be members).

Question 7

Cause/ Promotional groups

Answer 7

A pressure group that exists to advance particular values, ideals and principles.

• Membership based on shared values - eg. Charity/ world peace
• Membership is open to all
• Seek to advance a particular ideal or principle
• Benefit others or wider society
• Example - WWF, Greenpeace

Question 8

Sectional / interest group

Answer 8

• Defend interests
• Closed membership (certain job/ career)
• Members motivated by self interest
• Benefit members only
• E.g BMA - British medical association

Question 9

Cause / promotional

Answer 9

• Promote causes, such as charity/ poverty/ world peace
• Open membership
• Members motivated by moral concerns
• Examples - WWF, Greenpeace, Amnesty international

Question 10

Criticisms of sectional/ promotional distinction

Answer 10

1. Some groups have both sectional and promotional characteristics
2. One pressure group may have members with both sectional/ promotional motivations
3. Some pressure groups try to mask their sectional motivations by adopting the language of a promotional groups.

Question 11

Insider / outsider distinction

Answer 11

• Sectional/ promotional groups can either be insider/ outsider
• Based on their relationship with government - dependent on who is in government

Question 12

Insider groups

Answer 12

A pressure group that enjoys regular, privileged and usually institutionalised access to the government.

• Aims are in line with the governments views (if government changes insider groups may become outsider).

Question 13

Outsider groups

Answer 13

Pressure group that is either not consulted by government or consulted only irregularly and not usually at a senior level.

• Use other ways to have an impact - media or trying to influence the public opinion
• Outsider groups are often more well known due to the attention grabbing tactics they use.

Question 14

Think tanks

Answer 14

A body of experts brought together to collectively focus on a certain topic(s) : to investigate and offer solutions to often complicated and seemingly intractable (hard to control) economic, social or political issues.

Question 15

Lobbyists

Answer 15

A lobbyist is paid by clients to try influence the government and/or MPs and members of the House of Lords to act in their clients interests, particularly when legislation is under consideration