POLYAS Webinar: Register for our free, live online webinar on June 28, 2023 from 4:30-5:30 pm CET / 10:30-11:30 am Eastern and learn how to set up your online election or live voting project.
We provide explanations and background information on elections, voting rights and digital democracy
Political Pressure Group
Political pressure groups are organizations set up in order to influence government policy-making, legislation, and public opinion. They are also known as lobbying groups, advocacy groups, special interest groups and protest groups. Political pressure groups vary significantly by size, influence and the methods they employ to exert influence. Additionally, the interests advocated by political pressure groups are wide-ranging and groups are motivated to come together in support of a particular action through commonly held interests or beliefs. Some examples include:
Businesses supporting tax cuts
Labor unions advocating worker safety and wage increases
Environmental groups lobbying for action on climate change
Animal rights groups campaigning for hunting bans
Health organizations supporting smoking bans
Methods used by political pressure groups
The methods by which political pressure groups seek to influence policy differ between individual groups. Larger, well-resourced groups will often seek direct access to politicians in order to influence their view on the issue at hand. They may also provide assistance directly to individual political campaigns or vote as a single bloc for or against favorable and unfavorable political candidates.
Smaller, resource-poor groups are more limited in their methods of influencing government. They will often have less direct access to policy makers and may instead resort to acts of civil disobedience and socially disruptive action in order to exert indirect influence.