Introduction
Pressure groups are organized groups that seek to influence government policies and decisions without seeking to hold political office themselves. They play a crucial role in democratic societies by representing various interests and advocating for specific causes.
Key Concepts
1. Definition
A pressure group is an organized body of people with a defined interest, aiming to influence government policies as they affect their members. They may also be referred to as interest groups, advocacy groups, or lobbying groups.
2. Functions of Pressure Groups
- Policy Influence: Pressure groups aim to influence government policies and decisions to align with their interests.
- Public Awareness: They raise public awareness on specific issues through campaigns and information dissemination.
- Representation: Represent the interests of their members to the government and other stakeholders.
- Accountability: Act as a check on government power by holding authorities accountable for their actions.
- Expert Advice: Provide specialized knowledge and expertise to inform policy-making processes.
3. Types of Pressure Groups
- Sectional Groups: Represent specific sections of society, such as trade unions or professional associations.
- Promotional Groups: Advocate for specific causes or issues, like environmental protection or human rights.
- Insider Groups: Have direct access to decision-makers and influence policy from within the system.
- Outsider Groups: Operate outside formal political structures and often use public campaigns to influence policy.
4. Methods of Operation
- Lobbying: Engaging directly with policymakers to present their views and persuade them.
- Public Campaigns: Organizing protests, petitions, and media campaigns to raise awareness and garner support.
- Research and Reports: Conducting studies and producing reports to provide evidence-based recommendations.
- Legal Action: Pursuing legal avenues to challenge policies or actions that negatively impact their interests.
5. Merits of Pressure Groups
- Democratic Participation: Enable citizens to participate in the political process beyond voting.
- Policy Improvement: Contribute to the development of well-informed and balanced policies.
- Representation: Ensure that diverse interests and viewpoints are considered in decision-making.
- Public Education: Educate the public on important issues and encourage informed debate.
6. Limitations of Pressure Groups
- Resource Constraints: Limited financial and human resources can hinder their effectiveness.
- Access to Power: Difficulty in gaining access to decision-makers, especially for outsider groups.
- Public Perception: May be viewed as self-serving or unrepresentative of the broader public interest.
- Internal Conflicts: Disagreements within the group can weaken their influence and credibility.
Study Tips
- Understand the distinction between pressure groups and political parties.
- Familiarize yourself with examples of both sectional and promotional groups.
- Review past WAEC questions to identify common themes and areas of focus.
- Practice explaining the functions and methods of pressure groups in your own words.
THEORY
1. Discuss the different types of pressure groups.
b. Illustrate with relevant examples.
2. Define pressure group.
3. Explain their mode of operation
4. What are the functions of pressure
5. Enumerate the methods used by pressure groups to achieve their objectives.
6. Identify six merits of pressure groups in a now democratic state.
OBJECTIVES
1. Pressure groups are also known as
A. social clubs.
B. cultural organizations.
C. interest groups.
D. secular groups.
2. While political parties aim at forming a government, pressure groups aim at
A. imposing a military rule.
B. causing social unrest.
C. influencing government decisions.
D. controlling a nation’s economy.
3. Which of the following statements distinguishes political parties from pressure groups?
A. Political parties only lobby government to change certain policies.
B. Pressure groups select candidates for political office.
C. Political parties influence government policies.
D. Pressure groups influence government policies to members interest.
4. Which of the following is not a pressure group? The
A. Nigeria Farmers’ Council.
B. Nigeria Union of Teachers.
C. National Party of Nigeria.
D. Academic Staff Union of Universities.
5. An association whose ultimate aim is to influence government policies is known as
A. civil service.
B. pressure group.
C. political party.
D. public corporation.
6. Membership of pressure groups is usually limited because they
A. pursue specific and narrow objectives.
B. promote other people’s interest.
C. do not have dynamic leadership.
D. promote the interest of the government.
7. The main objective of pressure groups is to
A. fund election campaigns.
B. change the government by violent means.
C. influence government policies.
D. change the manifestos of all political parties.
8. Which of the following is not a method used by pressure groups to achieve their objectives
A. employing lobbyists.
B. embarking on demonstrations.
C. embarking on strikes and boycotts.
D. contesting for political positions.
9. Membership of pressure groups is usually limited because they
A. pursue specific and narrow objectives.
B. seek unlimited freedom for their members.
C. promote other people’s interests.
D. are not patriotic.
10. Which of the following is not an aim of pressure groups?
A. Contesting election.
B. Agitating for interests.
C. Influencing government decisions.
D. Educating their members.
11. A pressure group formed only by teachers is
A. a promotional group.
B. an occupational group.
C. a religious group.
D. an economic group.
12. Pressure groups use all the following techniques to achieve their objectives except
A. lobbying.
B. demonstrating.
C. coup d’etat.
D. strike.
13. When a pressure group is made up of people of the same profession, it is called
A. a promotional group.
B. an occupational group.
C. an interest group.
D. a religious group.
14. The principal aim of pressure groups is to
A. subvert the government.
B. support the government.
C. influence the citizens.
D. influence the government.
15. Which of the following is not common to both political parties and pressure groups in post-
independence Nigeria?
A. constitutional provisions.
B. threat of proscriptions by the government.
C. arrest and detention of members.
D. election/selection of leaders.
16. Which of the following is a function of pressure groups?
A. Represent and protect the rich.
B. Protect the interest of government.
C. Serve as avenue for political victimization.
D. Provide forum for the ventilation of grievances.
17. Which of the following pressure groups does Cotton Producers’ Union represent?
A. Labour.
B. Economic.
C. Social.
D. Political.
18. Promotional pressure groups usually cater for the interest of
A. all workers.
B. the general public.
C. non-members only.
D. all professional bodies.
19. The main objective of a pressure group is to
A. change the government.
B. fund election campaigns.
C. form the government.
D. influence government policies.
20. An organized group which influences government decisions is a
A. political party.
B. co-operative society.
C. vigilante group.
D. pressure group.
21. When a pressure group is made up of people of the same profession, it is called
A. a promotional group.
B. an interest group.
C. an occupational group.
D. a religious group.
22. A pressure group is a body of people organized for the purpose of
A. defending the nation.
B. exercising political power.
C. exercising influence on government.
D. collecting money for charitable concerns.
23. A feature of pressure groups is that members
A. oppose the government.
B. are in the same labour union.
C. do not believe in dialogue.
D. have similar interests.
24. A pressure group can be defined as a
A. large group interested in seizing political power.
B. political party interested in government.
C. small group interested in sharing governmental power.
D. group organized around an interest for government action.
24. The main objective of pressure groups is to
A. influence the public.
B. influence government decisions.
C. organize strikes and demonstrations..
D. criticize the government.
26. A major objectives of a pressure groups is to
A. influence policies of government.
B. contest elections.
C. control the machinery of government.
D. provide political education.
27. Which of these functions is performed by both political parties and pressure groups
A. Interest aggregation and articulation.
B. Source of medication in a state.
C. Provision of specialized information.
D. Seeking to manage affairs of a state.
28. Pressure groups seek to influence the policies of government
A. to the advantage of their members.
B. so that all citizens of their members.
C. to suit the manifestoes of political parties.
D. to conform with electoral act.
29. Pressure groups provide
A. manifestoes for political parties.
B. sponsorship of candidates for political office.
C. aims and objectives for a wider appeal to the electorate.
D. means by which governments ascertain public reactions to their policies.
30. Labour groups mostly come under the umbrella of the
A. industrial workers union.
B. trade union men congress.
C. anomic group.
D. Civil defence
31. Most pressure groups especially in West Africa fail to achieve their goals as a result of
A. good governance
B. charisma of the president
C. transparency of the legislature
D. corrupt leadership
32. A pressure group which resorts to violence as a betes means of pressing home its demands is described as
A. anomic
B. associational
C. labour agitation
D. organization with the aim of influencing government
policies
33. One of the features of pressure groups is that, all members
A. are rich.
B. think in the same way.
C. have similar interests.
D. oppose the government.
34. Which of the following modes of operation off pressure groups undermines economic, social and
political stability of a state?
A. Lobbying
B. Symposia
C. Strikes
D. Debates.
35. Which of the following tools is not used by pressure groups to achieve their aim?
A. Boycotts.
B. Demonstrations.
C. Elections.
D. Strikes.
36. The reason for which the government should take a key interest in the activities of pressure groups is
that, they
A. force coalition among political parties for election
B. blackmail political leaders
C. provide valuable feedback on government policies and programmes
D. dictate the path and direction for government programmes
