Pressure groups are organized groups of individuals or organizations that attempt to influence public policy and decision-making.
Pressure groups use various techniques to influence elected representatives, including lobbying, public campaigns, and petitions.
A pressure group is a group of people who work together to make their particular concerns known to those in government and to influence the passage of legislation.
According to Francis G. Castle, “Pressure Group is a group having no political nature but brings variations in government policies and its members are neither elected by the people nor nominated by the government, and unlike a party, it has no any name.”
A pressure group is organized to further or promote its specific interests by influencing the government or its agents.
Functions, Role And Importance Of Pressure Groups
Provision Of Vital Information
These groups are often composed of specialized people or a group of a particular profession.
Pressure groups provide important information of professional or technical nature to the legislature for legislation.
Leaders of pressure groups appear before the legislative committees and administrators, where they point out various important professional and technical sides of an issue under discussion. These pieces of information are very important.
Source of Interrelation
A pressure group is a source of communication for the government and relates between the government and the people.
It expresses people’s reactions to a particular government’s policy and enables people to participate in government activities.
These functions are of great value both for the people and the government.
It plays a two-way role in strengthening the government and people’s relationship.
Representing Minorities
It is generally observed that when there is no minority representation in the result of general elections, minorities can effectively present their joint problems as pressure groups.
Small political parties and underrepresented groups can influence the law-making process in this way. Its role in minority representation is crucial.
People’s Interests
Pressure groups are the caretakers of the people’s interests. When a particular law of government or a policy is against the general interests or a government department enforces and interprets a law against people’s will, it is reacted by pressure groups. The reaction of the people is conveyed in this way.
Check On Extreme Activities
Pressure groups control political extremism in a country. If a majority party legislates and executes according to its facilitation and sweet will in an extreme way, such extremism is controlled by pressure groups. They present an alternate solution.
Presentation Of Grievances
Pressure groups present individuals’ hatred and reactions in an orderly way.
Despite individuals’ destructive reactions, the government is influenced mainly constructively.
Pressure groups are critical in democratic systems and are second after political parties.
These groups are now an integral part of political systems. Today, politics is played in group shape, and group minds may be developed through pressure groups.
Public Opinion
Pressure groups, like political parties, play a significant role in forming and expressing public opinion.
Stratagies OrTechniques Of Pressure Groups
Pressure groups are to adopt different means to influence government policymakers and legislators. Political parties aid administrators.
Various trade unions, chambers of commerce, and industries are examples of Pressure Groups in a state.
Pressure Groups pressure government institutions and officials to solve their common problems.
The following are the common modes of pressure:
Non-Cooperation And Pressure Groups
In this strategy, pressure groups resort to no cooperation of various institutions and employees against the government.
In this way, the functions of government are almost paralyzed. The government can only do something if there is cooperation and it is ultimately motivated to accept the group’s demands.
This is a very important technique in the hands of pressure groups. Government has no alternative but to bend.
Strikes And Demonstrations
If a government is reluctant to accept demands peacefully, pressure groups adopt other means and go to strikes and protests. It is of various kinds, not to work for a specific period and lock of offices etc.
The labor unions, offices and professional groups present demands through strikes, protests and demonstrations. Government is to accept to protect her nose.
Participation In Election Campaigns
Pressure groups often share actively in elections and support candidates and political parties whose programs favor these groups or the candidates inclined to their demands.
It is an important technique with pressure groups. Political parties give special attention to such groups because they are very helpful in the election.
When their supported parties come into power, they legislate, keeping in view their demands.
Publicity Campaigns
To get the maximum support of people, these groups spread their interests throughout the country through publicity campaigns. In this way, they mold government policy.
Sometimes pressure groups hold public meetings throughout the state to make public opinion in their favor and gain ground with people.
To Make A Political Party
When a pressure group becomes well organized, it forms a political party. In this way, they can effectively present their interests before policy-making institutions
.
Forming a political party by a pressure group is only useful in a multi-party state.
After making a political party, a pressure group ceases to be a pressure group.
This is effective only when demands are vital and of permanent and durable nature.
Media And Pressure Groups
Pressure groups often present their demands through the press, magazines, pamphlets, play cards, Videos, films, radio, and T.V. etc.
It is an ordinary way of presenting interests before policymakers.
Violence And Pressure Groups
If a pressure group cannot present its demands through legal channels, then they have nothing but to adopt illegal and violent means.
They resort to materialistic violence, i.e., bloodshed, riots, destruction, bomb-blast, highjacking, kidnapping of officials and other violent means etc.
This strategy is often exercised in underdeveloped countries, for the groups are only sometimes given legal opportunities.
Social Gatherings And Public Places
Leaders of pressure groups sometimes present their demands to officials in social gatherings: on a cup of tea, in a club or places of entertainment, places of worship, parks or hotels etc.
