Pressure Groups

• A group of like minded individuals who seek to influence the public and/ or government policy and legislation for a particular cause or concern

  Pressure group
• Function provided by pressure groups when representing specific sections & social groups in society, not just set geographical constituencies

  Functional representation
• Which of the below are the two main methods of categorising pressure groups? by their

  Aims and status
• The term used for pressure groups that aim to protect the interests of their members - memberships of these groups is usually exclusive

  Sectional / interest groups
• Term used for pressure groups that aim to promote issues and policies that do not exclusively benefit

  Cause/ promotional groups
• Pressure groups that regularly consult with the government and are able to work effectively within Parliamentary procedures

  Insider groups
• Pressure groups that are unable or unwilling to work with the government or Parliament, and focus their efforts on influencing public opinion

  Outsider groups
• Term used for the various people and places that pressure groups target to apply pressure for their desired changes

  Access points
• Small, stable, elite groups of government officials & interest group leaders, who have shared interest in a particular policy area

  Policy communities
• Loose and large groups of ministers, civil servants, pressure groups, academics & think tanks, who have a shared interest in a particular policy area

  Policy networks
• The use of violent or non-violent protest to immediately achieve political or social aims, rather than going through traditional, official channels

  Direct action
• Someone who, for a fee, attempts to influence government policy and legislation on behalf of another individual or group

  Lobbyist
• Which of the below can be considered a social movement

  Environmentalism
• A democracy in which power is fragmented & dispersed. There is open and fair competition between pressure groups, with equal opportunity to influence

  Pluralist democracy
• A view that power is, or should be, fragmented & dispersed. Open competition creates a degree of balance, preventing the emergence of a powerful elite

  Pluralism
• The view that, despite the appearance of open competition, power is concentrated in the hands of a small number of powerful individuals & groups

  Elitism
• The concern that, in a majoritarian democracy, the interests of the majority will inevitably be considered above the interests of the minority

  Tyranny of the majority
• Term used when there are so many groups objecting to the government’s plans that it struggles to function effectively

  Hyperpluralism
• Pressure groups that spend the majority of their time working to represent the interests and views of their members

  Primary groups
• Pressure groups that occasionally, take political action, but primarily offer services for members (that are likely why many joined)

  Secondary groups
• Derisive term used to describe political action on social media that does not necessarily show genuine political engagement or awareness


  Clicktivism
• The concern that self-interested minority groups can pressure the government to put their needs above the national interest


  Tyranny of the minority
• Broad term used when governments work closely with pressure group elites, particularly business groups, to make important decisions without the voters

  Corporatism
• Informal networks of people and organisations who support broadly similar goals that can often initially be seen as radical

  Social movement
• Where the government closely consults, negotiates and compromises with business leaders and trade unions to plan economic policy

  Tripartism
• Where the government invites pressure groups to submit responses to proposed legislation, possibly after publishing a white or green paper

  Consultation
• Organisations that represent the interests of a number of different pressure groups that share similar interests or causes

  Umbrella groups
• 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

  Cheque book members
• Pressure groups that work closely and regularly with the government across a broad range of issues

  Core insiders
• Pressure groups that tend to be consulted on particular issues where their expertise is required

  Specialist insiders
• Pressure groups that act as an insider group, operating within the formal official channels, but with very little real influence

  Peripheral insiders
• Pressure groups with radical aims that reject the existing political system and refuse to limit themselves by working within its formal procedures

  Ideological outsiders
• Pressure groups that lack the skills and knowledge to act as an insider group

  Outsiders by necessity
• Pressure groups that are working to become insiders groups, and just lack sufficient support and experience

  Potential insiders