Pressure Groups: Methods of Exerting Influence

There are a variety of ways via which the pressure groups could exert influence. These include – Via Ministers and civil servants, Parliamentary Lobbying, Via Political parties, Raising Public opinion and Direct action.

Ministers and civil servants

Ministers and Governments consult groups for a variety of reasons such as specialized knowledge and advice to inform the policy process; cooperation of important groups; gauge the reaction of the affected groups to proposed policies.  Due to these reasons, major economic, industrial and trade policies are developed with the consultation of major corporations, trade associations and business groups.

Parliamentary Lobbying

Parliamentary lobbying is to supplement contacts with ministers and officers via members of parliament in influencing the policy through private members bills, parliamentary questions and select committee enquiries.

Political Parties

Links with a political party help in influencing the policy decisions when that party is in power.  One of the major ways to influence the parties is funding and donations.

Public opinion

Pressure group indirectly influence the policy decision by public-opinion campaigning via pushing issues up the political agenda and demonstrating both the strength of commitment and the level of public support for a particular cause.

Direct action

Strikes, blockades, boycotts and sit-ins are all examples of direct action. Direct action may be violent or non-violent. Non-violent direct action sometimes takes the form of civil disobedience.