Pressure Groups

1
Pressure Groups

• Their role in a Democracy

2
Aim of a Pressure Group

• Pressure Groups do not want to govern the country
  .
• They want to influence the government to take
  their views into account when the government is
  making new laws.

3
Types of Pressure Groups

• When discussing Pressure Groups we can divide
  them into two types
• Cause Groups
• Interest Groups

4
Cause Groups

• Child Poverty Action Group
• Shelter
• Amnesty International
• Greenpeace

5
Examples of Interest Groups

• TUC
• CBI
• BMA
• NFU

6
Interest Groups 1

• These groups exist to advance the economic or
  professional interests of their members.
• Trade Unions
• Employers Associations
• Professional associations

7
Interest Groups 2

• These groups can sometimes be described as
  insider groups.
• This means they have access to the decision
  makers.
• NFU consulted by senior civil servants about
  regulations concerning BSE or Foot and Mouth

8
Insider Groups

• BMA consulted by government when new legislation
  being introduced regarding health or the reform
  of the NHS

9
Cause Groups

• These groups do not have the same access to the
  decision makers as interest groups. They
  therefore rely on other methods to influence the
  government.

10
Why has there been a growth in Pressure Groups?

• Disillusionment with political parties
• Much more laws and regulations (European
  Parliament, Scottish Parliament) Therefore
  people more likely to be affected by these
  decisions.
• Success of other pressure groups

11
Are pressure groups good for democracy ?

• Allows ordinary people to participate in the
  democratic process
• Allows more scrutiny of government

• Important decisions are often made by small
  groups of influencial people in private.

12
Methods of Cause Groups

• Petitions
• Lobbying Parliament
• Press campaigns
• Direct Action