Pressure Groups and Methods

Question 1

What are pressure groups?

Answer 1

Organisations that intend to influence the decision making process and policies

Question 2

What are sectional groups and give examples?

Answer 2

• They have a functional representational role as membership is often restricted to a particular section of society e.g. teachers, lawyers. They aim to look after interests of that particular group
• Unison, British Heart Foundation and NFU

Question 3

What are cause groups and give examples?

Answer 3

• Don’t represent a specific section of society so membership tends to be open (seeking to gain a mass of support) and aim to target an idea or target in general
  -Greenpeace, Fathers 4 Justice

Question 4

What are insider groups and give examples?

Answer 4

• They work large with the gov., seek to have places on policy committees and units and provide reports showing research findings. They give evidence to parliamentary committees to arrange meetings directly with ministers and civil servants and may be directly involved in the drafting of legislation
• Law Commission, National Consumer Council

Question 5

What are outsider groups and give example?

Answer 5

• Aren’t closely associated with government and are largely excluded from political consultation and contact. They seek to mobilise public opinion.
• They remain outside as they don’t want to restrain their methods of protest, don’t want to be affiliated to parties or haven’t been invited in,
• Stop HS2, Extinction Rebellion

Question 6

Describe methods used by insider groups

Answer 6

Methods are ‘quiet’ as they have access to gov.:
- Try to access key decision-makers (PM, Cabinet and civil servants) to argue the case directly
- Provide specialist information and advice when the government is considering new legislation; provides pressure groups with access to influence govs.
- Try to target and influence members of the House of Commons, Lords, EU etc e.g. policies regarding farming are made at an EU level so the NFU lobbies Brussels not Westminster

Question 7

Describe methods used by outsider groups

Answer 7

Influence gov. indirectly by persuading the public and they use ‘loud’ methods:
- Mass public campaigns like marches and demonstrations to put pressure on gov. e.g. Stop the War and anti-authority demonstration in London
- Publicity stunts
- Social media, e-petitions and the internet to voice their concerns and raise public support
- Use of celebrities to contribute to news and current affairs programmes
- Civil disobedience and illegal activities (direction action)

Question 8

What is direction action?

Answer 8

Where the public actively becomes involved in politics:
- Marches and demonstrations to show objection or support e.g. anti-Brexit marches or Grenfell Tower protests
- Trade unions may go on strike e.g. junior doctors striking to protest against the imposition of new contracts
- Sit-ins e.g Occupy London
- Illegal acts e.g. against animal testing there was grave violation or harassing animal laboratories