Pressure Groups- Revision Guide
Types of Pressure Groups:
Institutional:
● Business/Trade Groups (American Business Association)
● Labour Unions and Agricultural Groups (National Farmers’ Union)
● Professional Groups (National Education Association)
● Intergovernmental Groups (National Governors’ Conference)
Membership:
● Single-issue Groups (National Rifle Association)
● Ideological Groups (People for the American Way)
● Group Rights Groups (League of Women’s Voters)
● Public Interest Groups/Think Tanks (Institute for Policy Studies)
Functions of Pressure Groups:
● Representation
● Citizen Participation
● Public Education- Berry and Wilcox: ‘With their advocacy efforts, publications and
publicity campaigns, pressure groups can make people better aware of both
policy problems and proposed solutions.’
● Agenda Building- providing voting cues for party members.
● Programme Monitoring: AARP monitored government over Bush’s private
retirement accounts.
Methods
● Electioneering- 2014 American Crossroads had raised $3.9m for candidates.
● Opposition- AIPAC and the NRA regularly oppose candidates with poor records
on Israel and gun reform.
● Trying to get the vote out- NAACP led the campaign for the Motor Vote Act in
1993
● Lobbying- anti-gun groups organised the ‘Million Mom March’ in 2000 outside
Capitol Hill to try and get Congress to pass an anti-gun law
● Monitoring politicians
● Scorecards
● Endorsing/donating to candidates
● Publicity
● Organising Grassroots Activities
● Propositions- such a the Same Sex Marriage legislation that passed through
initiatives
Access Points:
Types of Pressure Groups:
Institutional:
● Business/Trade Groups (American Business Association)
● Labour Unions and Agricultural Groups (National Farmers’ Union)
● Professional Groups (National Education Association)
● Intergovernmental Groups (National Governors’ Conference)
Membership:
● Single-issue Groups (National Rifle Association)
● Ideological Groups (People for the American Way)
● Group Rights Groups (League of Women’s Voters)
● Public Interest Groups/Think Tanks (Institute for Policy Studies)
Functions of Pressure Groups:
● Representation
● Citizen Participation
● Public Education- Berry and Wilcox: ‘With their advocacy efforts, publications and
publicity campaigns, pressure groups can make people better aware of both
policy problems and proposed solutions.’
● Agenda Building- providing voting cues for party members.
● Programme Monitoring: AARP monitored government over Bush’s private
retirement accounts.
Methods
● Electioneering- 2014 American Crossroads had raised $3.9m for candidates.
● Opposition- AIPAC and the NRA regularly oppose candidates with poor records
on Israel and gun reform.
● Trying to get the vote out- NAACP led the campaign for the Motor Vote Act in
1993
● Lobbying- anti-gun groups organised the ‘Million Mom March’ in 2000 outside
Capitol Hill to try and get Congress to pass an anti-gun law
● Monitoring politicians
● Scorecards
● Endorsing/donating to candidates
● Publicity
● Organising Grassroots Activities
● Propositions- such a the Same Sex Marriage legislation that passed through
initiatives
Access Points:
