Division of pressure groups into sectional interest group and public interest groups how these two interest groups influence politics
Answers
Pressure or 'interest' groups are groups of people who are in association
because they have a common interest; and who use whatever power is
available as a result of their unity of interest to put pressure on other
agencies to have their views adopted.
The agencies most likely to be able to influence events are central and
local government, or agencies connected with these - for example the Civil
Service or a Local Education Authority. However, multi-national corporations,
the Churches or any other policy-making or decision-taking body
may be subject to the activities of pressure groups, or they may themselves
become pressure groups and try and influence other agencies.
Pressure groups are often classified into two types: 'sectional' groups
which seek to protect or promote the interest of their members or some
other specified group of people as their major function and 'promotional'
groups which seek to achieve particular changes or to fight specific issues.
'Sectional' groups are sometimes called 'protective' groups because they
are mainly concerned with protecting the sectional interests of individuals
-often their own members. They include such organisations as the trade
unions; the Confederation of British Industry; professional associations
such as the British Medical Association; and a variety of organisations set
up to help specific groups of people such as Help the Aged, or the NSPCC.
Many of these groups have been so successful in persuading policymakers
that their views should be heeded that it has become a constitutional
convention for the Government to consult them before introducing
legislation that might affect their interests.
'Promotional' groups seek to promote a cause of some kind. The cause
may be quite limited in its objective; for example the Abortion Law
Reform Association was founded in 1936 with the objective of legalising
abortion and was successful in 1967; or more general,
Sectional interest groups are filled with trade unions, businessmen, and professionals like lawyers, teachers and doctors.
Their principal aim and concern is the well being of the people and not the society in general.
They are known as sectional interest groups because they form a section of the society.
Public interest groups are those kind f groups which look out for the welfare of the society.