(1) Distinguish between sectional and promotional pressure groups.!

Sectional groups seek to represent the common interests of a particular section of society. As a result, members of sectional groups are directly and personally concerned with the outcome of the campaign fought by the group because they usually stand to gain professionally and/or economically. Trade unions, employers' associations and professional bodies are all sectional groups and membership is usually restricted. !

Promotional groups endeavour to promote a particular cause, and for this reason are sometimes called 'cause' groups. They are not self-interested in that the achievement of their objectives is not necessarily of direct professional or economic benet to the members of the group. Examples of cause groups are Shelter, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) and Greenpeace. Because cause groups aim to promote a cause which might potentially be supported by everybody, regardless of their profession or economic position - membership is not usually restricted. !

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Promotional groups promote a case which they think everybody should favour. Charities, the Council for Civil Liberties, and environmental or cultural groups are good examples. Membership is open and anyone is eligible to join. ! The paper refuses to question the premise that underlies lobbying. It fails to question a political process that allowsand even encouragespressure group politics. Instead, the paper argues that some groupsbusinessesshould not have an unfair advantage.! Lobbyists are not a creation of the free market, but of a mixed economyan economy with a mixture of freedoms and controls. When government has the power to regulate economic activity, individuals will seek to inuence that power. When government has the power to arbitrarily dictate the actions of individuals, individuals will seek legislation that is favorable to them.!

The logical result is pressure group politics, in which individuals band together to exert inuence on legislators. Whether the group is a union, a business, or a special interest, it will claim that the common good or public interest requires legislation that provides it with special benets at the expense of those who are not a member of that group. This is

true whether the legislation prescribes or proscribes, whether the legislation confers tax benets, or creates entitlement programs, or attempts to stimulate some industry.!

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a) Using examples, distinguish between promotional and sectional pressure groups.! The differences between promotional groups (PGs) and sectional groups (SGs) include the following:! PGs seek to advance ideas, ideals or political causes, whereas SGs aim to advance or defend interests! PGs are concerned with the well being of others or society in general whereas SGs are concerned with the well being of their own members.! PGs have an open membership, whereas SG membership is restricted to people in particular occupations, professions or positions.! Examples of SGs include the National Union of Teachers, the Law Society and the Confederation of British Industry, whereas examples of PGs include Greenpeace, Shelter and Oxfam.!