Representation

Pressure groups provide a mouthpiece for groups and interests that are not adequately represented through the electoral process or by political parties. This occurs, in part, because groups are concerned with the specific rather than the general. In other words, while the political parties attempt to broaden their appeal in order to attract all voters, the pressure groups articulate the views or interests of particular groups and focus on specific causes. It has even been argued that pressure groups provide an alternative to the formal representative process through what has been

called functional representation.

However, questions have also been raised about the capacity of pressure groups to carry out representation:

♤ Pressure groups have a low level of internal democracy, creating the possibility that they express the views of their leaders and not their members.

♤ The influence of pressure

groups on government does not always reflect their membership size or their popular support.