Difference between pressure group and political parties. - SS1 Government Lesson Note

The main difference between pressure groups and political parties is that pressure groups are primarily focused on promoting specific issues or causes, while political parties are focused on gaining political power and implementing a broader agenda.

Pressure groups and political parties are both organizations that seek to influence political decisions, but there are several differences between the two and they include:

·         Goal: Pressure groups focus on promoting specific causes or issues, while political parties seek to win elections and gain control of government.

·         Membership: Pressure groups typically have a narrower membership base than political parties, and members may join simply to support a specific cause or issue, while political parties seek to appeal to a broader range of voters.

·         Organization: Pressure groups tend to be less formal and hierarchical than political parties, with less centralized decision-making structures and a greater emphasis on grassroots activism.

·         Participation in elections: Pressure groups generally do not participate in elections or field candidates, while political parties compete in elections and seek to win political power.

·         Ideology: Political parties typically have a more coherent and well-defined ideology than pressure groups, which may be more issue-specific and less ideologically driven.