How can you or I influence policymakers? Do you think we'd be more or less effective at being heard than a group of powerful corporations? Let's take a look at how we define the success of pressure groups in this article. We'll also look at some key factors in success, methods used by pressure groups, and examples of pressure groups and successful campaigns.
Successful pressure groups definition
When thinking about a successful pressure groups definition, there is no empirical way to measure success. However, some factors can be used to analyse why some pressure groups are more successful than others. A fundamental factor in determining success is to what degree a pressure group was able to achieve its aim(s).
Pressure groups are groups that seek to influence or change government legislation and policies. Unlike political parties, pressure groups do not have candidates for elections, nor are they seeking to gain power for themselves; they merely seek to influence those in power.
To learn a bit more about pressure groups, check out our articles Pressure Groups and Pressure groups in the UK and US.
Factors affecting pressure group success
Even though there isn't a set definition or measure to determine the success of pressure groups, there are some factors affecting pressure group success. Some important factors to take into account are the relation to the government, practical achievability, public receptivity, resources, and leadership.
Relation to the government - There are two main types of pressure groups: outsider and insider pressure groups.
Insider groups' interests tend to be more closely aligned with the government. They tend to be better funded and often have links with multiple political parties. Outsider groups are usually smaller, less well funded, and their aims are usually in opposition to the government.
Insider pressure groups, such as the National Farmers Union (NFU) in the UK, work very closely with the government. Their opinions and input are sought-out and valued, and therefore, their aims are more easily achievable. An example of an NFU success is managing to include plant nursery workers in the tax exemption extended to agricultural workers1.
Practical achievability - this refers to the extent to which a pressure group's aims are practically achievable.
Amnesty International's general aim is to fight human rights abuses worldwide. How do they make this very broad aim more achievable? They create detailed campaigns on specific issues.
Public receptivity – this refers to the extent to which the wider population embraces the aims of the pressure group. If your aims are sound, yet they are not well received by the public, this is likely to affect the success of a pressure group.
Newsworthy events such as drastic weather events will influence how much the public supports pressure groups aiming to improve governments' climate change policies.
Resources - this includes both human resources and material resources. The amount of money and equipment available to a pressure group will influence success, as well as the number of people that can contribute their time and effort to the pressure group. Also, some causes may need more resources than others.
This means that often, pressure groups representing businesses are more successful than consumer rights groups.
Leadership - a strong, organised and convincing leadership can make all the difference in determining a pressure group's success.
Martin Luther King Jr's leadership of the Civil Rights Movement in the US, characterised by non-violent campaigns, was able to attract the support of a broad spectrum of the population.
Fig. 1 Martin Luther King Jr at the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington DC
Methods used by pressure groups
Pressure groups use a few common methods to exert this influence successfully. These methods used by pressure groups include electioneering and endorsement, lobbying, influencing political parties, a judicial approach, and grassroots activities.
Electioneering and endorsement
US-based pressure groups are particularly prone to electioneering and endorsements. This usually involves the use of political action committees (PACs) and super PACs, which refer to organisations that raise money for political candidates.
First Amendment rights and some Supreme court cases allow for virtually unlimited pressure group expenditures on elections. Thanks to this, US pressure groups publicly throw their support behind, or against, specific candidates. This is referred to as an endorsement. In the UK, however, there are much stricter laws on pressure groups' election and campaign expenditure and charities making political donations. On top of this, as of the passing of the Lobbying bill, in 2014, trade unions have to get members' approval to set up political funds.
The First Amendment protects the rights to speech, religion, assembly, press, and petition the government.
Lobbying
The most effective method that pressure groups use is lobbying, and effective lobbying dramatically increases the likelihood of success for pressure groups. The most effective lobbying occurs when pressure groups can get direct access to decision-makers and can therefore rely on this relationship to promote the agenda of the pressure group.
Which kind of pressure group do you think is more likely to have direct access to decision-makers and therefore be able to use lobbying most successfully?
Lobbying means lawfully trying to influence the policies or actions of decision-makers.
In the US, due to the federal structure of government, lobbying can take place at different access points and is usually seen with pressure groups advising legislators. As the UK government is largely centralised around Westminster, lobbying is mainly directed to central, rather than regional, government and often takes the form of talking directly to members of parliament.
Access points are the different government institutions and levels of government that pressure groups can try to influence. US examples include Congress, federal agencies, and state governments.
Influencing political parties
To drive change, some pressure groups maintain close ties with political parties. In the US, pressure groups have ties with multiple parties and tend mainly to support the incumbent. In the UK, instead, specific pressure groups offer their support to the party most aligned to their beliefs.
Incumbent refers to the candidate who is currently holding office.
The Labour Party is generally supported by trade unions, while the Conservatives will receive support from pressure groups that represent the interests of businesses.
Judicial approach
In some instances, pressure groups use the law to exert influence. Through the use of judicial review, pressure groups can challenge government policy on legal grounds.
The use of judicial review is seen more commonly in US pressure groups, as the US has a more extensive history of judicial review and a more established Supreme Court than the UK.
In the US, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a pressure group that was actively involved in a 2005 Supreme Court case. The case was McCreary v. ACLU where it was ruled that the display of the ten commandments in a courthouse was unconstitutional.
Grassroot activities
Other methods utilised by pressure groups include grassroots activities such as protests, strikes, demonstrations, and petitions. These methods tend to be used by outsider pressure groups and can be great at attracting media attention. However, if they were to turn disruptive or violent, this attention could be counterproductive to the pressure groups' aims.
The 2016 Black Lives Matter protest in Dallas turned violent. Even though it was not condoned by Black Lives Matter, this violence influenced how the campaign was perceived by the public.
Examples of pressure group success
There are a number of successful pressure groups in the UK and the US. Some stand out more so than others due to the vastness of their influence over their respective governments. Let's explore some examples of pressure group success in the UK and the US.
US Pressure Group Success
Some examples of pressure group success in the US include the NRA and the NAACP.
The NRA
The NRA is arguably the most influential and successful pressure group in the US. They were established in 1871 and have an estimated membership of between 3 and 5 million. The NRA has been extremely influential in preventing attempts to prevent harsh gun control laws, as they believe this to be an encroachment on the constitutional rights of Americans.
The NRA has managed to withstand multiple attempts to change the laws on the right to bear arms. This is because it's extremely well funded, has a substantial amount of support from the public, and has a strong influence over the Republican Party's policies.
The NAACP
The National Association For The Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) is also an extremely successful pressure group in the US. Today the NAACP is still extremely successful and focuses on issues such as inequality in the professional sector, voting rights and criminal justice reform.
Much of the advancements of the US Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 60s can be attributed directly to the role of the NAACP.
UK Pressure Group Success
Some UK examples of pressure group success include the BMA and Stonewall.
The BMA
The British Medical Association is an influential insider pressure group.
The BMA and the British parliament work together to improve national healthcare policies. The BMA contributed to the banning of smoking in public places and to the Alcohol Minimum Pricing Act.
The BMA is a trade union for doctors and medical students in the UK and seeks to represent the needs of its members.
- The BMA negotiates for improved working conditions for its doctors.
- The BMA was involved in campaigns to grant junior doctors in the NHS fair pay for weekend and evening work.
Stonewall
Stonewall is the most influential LGBTQIA+ pressure group in the UK that was established in 1989 as a response to the Section 28 government act that prohibited the promotion of homosexuality.
Stonewall achieved the repeal of Section 28 and amendments to adopt laws to allow homosexual couples to adopt.
Fig. 2 Stonewall at the London Pride
Successful pressure group campaigns
Let's now have a look at some examples of successful pressure groups campaigns in the US and UK.
Civil rights campaign
The civil rights movement, characterised by boycotts, sit-ins and non-violent campaigns sustained over more than a decade, led to the passing of the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the Voting Rights Act (1965).
Feed me better campaign, 2004
This campaign was successful as it was endorsed by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. The campaign sought to transform food within UK schools by providing healthier alternatives. The results of this campaign were nationally implemented in schools, and there is now a requirement for school dinners to be healthy.
Success of Pressure Groups - Key takeaways
- Pressure groups are groups that seek to influence or change government legislation and policies.
- A fundamental factor in determining success is the aims of the pressure group and to what degree they were able to achieve those aims.
- Practical achievability, resources, leadership, relation to government and public receptivity are factors in the success of a pressure group.
- Pressure groups utilise lobbying, influencing political parties, endorsement, electioneering, a judicial approach, and grassroots activities to achieve their aims.
- Two successful pressure group campaigns are the civil rights campaigns in the US and the Feed Me Better campaign in the UK.
References
- NFU lobbying success ensures equal treatment for nursery growers NFU website
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