Pressure Group Types

Sectional Interest Groups:

Also known as economic interest groups.
These represent a specific section of society such as a trade union or professional association.
Prominent examples include the American Medical Association (AMA) and the United Auto Workers union.
Their chief function is to promote the economic interests of their members.

Cause Groups:

These tend to focus on specific issues or causes, often based on ethical or moral beliefs.
Membership is not restricted to any specific section of society, as anyone who supports a group’s cause can join.
Key examples: Greenpeace (environmental issues) and National Rifle Association (gun rights).
Cause groups do not have to aim to benefit their members directly, only to promote a cause or value they believe in.

Insider Groups:

These are organisations or lobby groups that have a close relationship with policy makers.
They are often asked to participate in the drafting of legislation, consulted on key issues, or included in advisory panels.
For instance, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is an influential ‘insider’ group due to the nature of its relationship with the government.

Outsider Groups:

These are groups that have no special relationship with the government and seek to influence policy from outside the formal channels of power.
They often rely on public campaigning, demonstrations, media campaigns and public advocacy to achieve their aims.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) can be considered an ‘outsider’ group due to its use of courtroom litigation and public education.

Think Tanks:

These are research-driven organisations that seek to influence public policy based on their own research and analysis.
They can conduct influential studies on a myriad of issues and aim to have their findings shape public policy.
Famous examples include the Brookings Institution and the Heritage Foundation.

Political Action Committees (PACs):

These are organisations that raise and donate money to candidate campaigns, intending to influence elections and, consequently, policy.
PACs are categorised under U.S. federal law, which imposes limits on their contributions and expenditures.
Many corporations, labour unions, and issue-based organisations maintain PACs.

Super PACs:

Formally known as independent expenditure-only committees, Super PACs also aim to influence elections but are not subject to the same restrictions as traditional PACs.
They can raise and spend unlimited amounts from corporations, individuals, and labour unions, but cannot directly contribute to or coordinate with individual candidates or parties.
Their influence in U.S. politics has grown significantly since their creation following court rulings in 2010.

Interest Groups vs. Political Parties:

While both aim to affect policy, they vary in their methods and goals.
Interest groups work to influence policy by lobbying government officials, while political parties aim to gain control of government to implement their own policy agendas.
Political parties must appeal to a broad array of issues to gain majority support, while interest groups can focus on specific issues or interests.