pressure groups

• Access points - term used for the various people and places that pressure groups target to apply pressure for their desired changes
• Policy communities - Small, stable, elite groups of government officials and interest group leaders, who have a shared interest in a particular policy area.
• policy networks - loose and large group of ministers, civil servants, pressure groups, academics and think tanks, who have a shared interest in a particular policy area.
• Direct action - use of violent or non-violent protest to immediately achieve political or social aims, rather than going through traditional, official channels.
• Environmentalism - can be considered a social movement
• Pluralist democracy - a democracy in which power is fragmented and dispersed, There is open and fair competition between pressure groups, with equal opportunity to influence.
• Tyranny of the minority - the concern that, in a majoritarian democracy, the interests of the majority will inevitably be considered above the interests of the minority.
• Hyperpluralism - term used when there are so many groups objecting to the governments plans that it struggles to function effectively.
• Primary groups - pressure groups that spend majority of their time working to represent the interests and views of their members.
• Secondary groups - pressure groups that occasionally take political action, but primarily offer services for members (that are likely why many join).
• Tyranny of minority - the concern that self-interested minority groups can pressure the government to put their needs above national interest.
• Social movement - informal networks of people and organisations who support broadly similar goals that can often initially be seen as radical.
• Tripartism - where the government closely consults, negotiates and compromises with business leaders and trade unions to plan economic policy.
• Consultation - where the government invites pressure groups to submit responses to proposed legislation, possibly after publishing a white or green paper.
• Core insiders - pressure groups that work closely and regularly with the government across a broad range of issues.
• Specialist insiders - pressure groups that tend to be consulted on particular issues where their expertise is required.
• Peripheral insiders - pressure groups that act as an insider group, operating within the formal official channels, but with very little real influence.
• Outsiders by necessity - pressure groups that lack skills and knowledge to act as an insider group.
• Outsiders by choice - pressure groups who reject the idea of working through the system and instead choose to campaign outside it.
• Clicktivism - Derisive term used to describe political action on social media that does not necessarily show genuine political engagement or awareness.
• Corporatism - Broad term used when governments work closely with pressure group elites, particularly business groups, to make important decisions without the voter's knowledge.
• Umbrella groups - Organisations that represent the interests of a number of different pressure groups that share similar interests or causes.
• Cheque book members - Term used to describe people who donate to pressure groups and charities, but do not take any further political action to further the group's aims.
• Ideological outsiders - Pressure groups with radical aims that reject the existing political system and refuse to limit themselves by working within its formal procedures.
• Lobbying - The act of trying to influence politicians and government officials to change policy.
• Direct lobbying - When an individual or organisation meets directly with a politician or official to try and persuade them to support their cause.
• Indirect lobbying - When an individual or organisation tries to influence public opinion about an issue so as to put pressure on politicians to change policy.