A revised edition of this introductory textbook on pressure groups in Britain and their role in the political process. Coverage examines definitions and characteristics of pressure groups, and shows how groups seek to influence British politics and local, national and European public policy.

Pressure groups are an important influence on modern politics, with people feeling strongly about single issues, willing to protest, lobby and petition for their cause.

A coherent overview of pressure groups in Britain and how they influence the government, accessible to non-specialist graduate and undergraduate students. Discusses what pressure groups are and how they are studied; their place in a democracy; their internal structures and dynamics; their cooperation and resources; and their relationship to the central government, Parliament, the press and public, and other pressure points. Distributed in the US by St. Martin's Press. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The author argues that pressure group politics offers little to the socially excluded and that this is unlikely to change despite current rhetoric."--BOOK JACKET.

Containing all the information and analysis needed to understand the British system of Government and politics, Mastering British Politics is an essential text. This fifth edition has been fully revised and updated to reflect the results of and developments since the 2005 General Election.

A further volume in the Understanding Politics series, this textbook has been written specifically for A2-level students and covers the comparative dimension of advanced level study. It follows closely the syllabuses of the main examination boards, being particularly helpful for those requiring a direct comparison between the two political systems. Clear and accessible in style, it offers insights into the similiarities and differences between British and American politics. These are summarized in useful boxes at the end of each chapter, where there are also details of relevant websites and likely examination questions. politics operates in Britain and the US, noting aspects of the history and social structure of each country before exploring the concept of political culture. The underlying ideals and values of British and American people are compared and the book goes on to analyse the constitution before considering the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government in detail. In addition, the nature of American federalism and moves towards federal devolution in the UK are assessed. Political parties, the media and elections, pressure groups and voting are all extensively covered, with some concluding thoughts on the current condition of democracy in Britain and the US. comparative terms. It offers students the chance to boost their knowledge and understanding of the two political systems and provides the basis for a strong comparative response to any likely A2 question.

Pressure Groups are an increasingly important feature of the political landscape and they are active on many levels, local, national or European. They reflect a diverse compass of interests from the well-known (the National Farmers' Union) to the less familiar (the Zip Fastener Association) and interact with a wide range of political players in different parts of the political system: parties, the media, government and parliament. They are involved at every stage of the political process, from raising issues and agenda setting to policy implementation and monitoring.