Pressure Groups in UK Democracy

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes regarding the types, methods, and democratic impact of UK pressure groups.

Pressure groups

Organisations that seek to influence government policy without putting candidates forward for election.

Sectional groups

Groups that represent a specific section of society, such as a profession or union, with membership limited to qualified individuals (e.g., the British Medical Association).

Causal groups

Groups that campaign for a cause intended to benefit wider society rather than just their own members (e.g., Greenpeace).

Insider groups

Groups with close links to government that are often consulted on new laws or policy decisions (e.g., the National Farmers’ Union).

Outsider groups

Groups that lack government access and rely on public pressure, media attention, and protests to exert influence (e.g., Extinction Rebellion).

Lobbying

The practice of meeting with or influencing government ministers, such as the Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA) influencing Liz Truss’ mini-budget.

Direct Action

The use of protests, advertising, or civil disobedience to achieve political goals, such as Insulate Britain's motorway blockages which faced opposition from $72\%$ of the public.

Legal action

Using the courts to challenge government decisions, such as the $2020$ Supreme Court ruling on the definition of biological sex in the Equality Act $2010$.

Expertise

Specialist knowledge offered by groups to improve decision-making, such as domestic abuse groups informing the testing of emergency phone alerts.

Elitism

A criticism that wealthy or well-connected groups, such as those located on Tufton Street, gain disproportionate access to government policy-makers.

Liberty

A pressure group that holds the government to account by challenging surveillance powers under the Investigatory Powers Act.

National Farmers’ Union (NFU)

An insider, expertise-based group that represents agricultural producers and regularly advises DEFRA on farming policy.

Extinction Rebellion (XR)

An outsider environmental movement that uses high-visibility protests and civil disobedience to set the political agenda regarding climate change.

River Action

A group that improved political education by drawing attention to river pollution during the $2024$ Boat Race.