Pressure groups revision - short questions and answers.

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Pressure Groups

Short Questions

What is a pressure group?

* A pressure group is an organisation which seeks to influence public policy in relation to a particular issue.

* Pressure groups tend to have a narrow issue focus and are bound together by shared interests or a common cause.

* An example would be the CBI which represents 150,000 business and helps to influence government policy.

What are the functions of pressure groups?

* Representation

* Political participation

* Education

* Policy formulation

* Policy implementation.

Outline 2 differences between a political party and a pressure group

* A political party seeks to win power at various levels via elections like Labour, whereas pressure groups seek to influence those in power e.g. Make Poverty History.

* Generally pressure groups focus on a single or narrow range of issues e.g. Countryside Alliance wanted to legalise hunting

* Whereas political parties have to fight elections on a whole range of issues, released in the form of their party manifestos.

Outline, with examples, 2 types of pressure groups

* Promotional: a group that promotes causes, generally with moral concerns "for" people

* Open to anyone and benefits all of society, such as Amnesty International which seeks to protect human rights everywhere, thus helping everyone.

* Sectional: a group that protects causes, generally with material concerns and a group "of" people

* Benefits only its members and open only to those who meet criteria, e.g. CBI open to businesses, which protects only business interests.

Outline 2 differences between insider and outsider pressure groups.

* An 'insider' pressure group has access to the process of policy formulation.
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* Insider groups tend to have a low profile and don't appear in the headlines often

* E.g CBI have significant access to government and influence on policy and don't appear in headlines often.

* Outsider groups have limited/no access

* Outside groups use the media to gain attention and try to make headlines and have high profiles.

* E.g. Plane Stupid: Leila Deen throwing custard on Mandelson.

Distinguish between a pressure group and a social movement.

Pressure Group

Social Movement

Organised group with "card carrying" members

Large ...

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