Pressure group definitions

Pressure groups aqa textbook definitions

Access points

The various people and places that pressure groups target to apply pressure for their desired changes

Promotional groups

Pressure groups that aim to promote issues and policies that do not exclusively benefit the group’s members

Chequebook members

People who donate to pressure groups and charities, but do not take any further political action to further the group's aims

Slacktivism

Term used to describe political action on social media that does not necessarily show genuine political engagement or awareness

Insider groups

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

Direct Action

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

E-petition

An online means of triggering a government response or debate in Parliament

Elitism

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

Outsider by necessity

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

Lobbyist

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

Outsider groups

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

Outsider by choice

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

Democratic deficit

Where political engagement is so poor that it threatens to undermine democracy

Prisoner groups

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

Pluralism

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

Potential insiders

Pressure groups that are working to become insider groups, and just lack sufficient support and experience

Pressure group

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

Interest groups

Pressure groups that aim to protect the interests of their members – membership of these groups is usually exclusive

Core insider

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

Social movements

Loosely structured, broad-based movements made up of multiple groups and individuals working toward a shared goal, often through direct action and campaigning (e.g., Black Lives Matter)

Think tanks

Organisations that conduct research and propose policy ideas, often aligned with particular ideological perspectives (e.g., The Adam Smith Institute or the Institute for Public Policy Research)

Revolving door

When politicians or civil servants move into lobbying or private sector roles after leaving office, raising concerns about undue influence and conflicts of interest

Astroturfing

When organisations disguise themselves as grassroots movements but are actually backed by powerful interests to manipulate public opinion or policy

Lobbying

Any attempt to influence politicians or public officials on a specific policy or piece of legislation — can be done by individuals, lobbyists, or pressure groups

Political agenda

The political issues that voters consider to be the most important in an election. For example, the economy, healthcare and crime

Holacratic group

An organisation or team that follows holacracy, a decentralised management system where authority is distributed among self-organising teams rather than a traditional hierarchy.

Countervailing forces

Equally powerful groups that work against the cause and objective of another pressure group.