Question

What are the main differences between pressure groups and political parties?

Answer 1

Hint: Pressure groups mainly refers to the group of individuals who demand certain rights. Also, doing the protest against certain occurrences over a short span of time. On the other hand, the political party generally refers to the institution run by a group of individuals to promote the rights of the people. Also, they conduct mass civic education for awareness among the people.

Complete answer:
The difference is given as below:
(i) A pressure group is the organisation formed through the people having a common occupation, interest or even opinion. Thus they come together in order to achieve their common objective. Whereas a political party is formed when a group of people come together to contest the elections and ultimately hold the power in the government.
(ii) A pressure group is an informal institution, whereas a political party is a formal institution.
(iii) The membership of the pressure group is limited, but the membership of a political party is very broad-based.
(iv) Pressure groups are not accountable to people, but Political parties have to face the people in elections and they are accountable to the people.

Note:
Pressure groups and political parties both are co-dependent for achieving their goals. Pressure groups are considering the parties to be an important method to get access to those in power. The political parties need the support of groups of people having a share of one or more interests and hence to influence each other to get a win in the election. Actually, the nature of the federal system fosters a chain of a continuous relationship between the two bodies.