Analyse the ways in which US pressure groups are more significant than their UK counterparts.

... Analyse the ways in which US pressure groups are more significant than their UK counterparts. (45 min exam question) A pressure group is an organised unit seeking to influence government without putting forward candidates for elective office. These groups employ many different methods in order to achieve their goals and have mass membership both in the US and UK political systems. The main reason for pressure (interest) group dominance in the US political system when compared to the UK is the abundance of access points in the US, caused by the separation of powers between State and Federal government, and the further subdivision of federal government into legislature, executive and judiciary departments, each constitutionally prohibited from encroaching on each other's power. In the US pressure groups exercise many powers which have become more significant over time. Many pressure groups have full-time offices in Washington and employ ex-politicians to lobby Congress on their behalf. Pressure

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