AO1: Governments can ignore the vast bulk of influence exerted by think-tanks, lobbyists and pressure groups AO2: Governments have the sole authority to make decisions AO3: We can conclude few various examples that government decisions have not been reversed by these actions of these collective organisation AO1: Governments tend to ignore collective organisations who have incompatible views AO2: Governments have a mandate to carry out their policies, collective organisations do not. AO3: We can reach a judgement that collective organisations with limited compatibility with government policy have limited impact. AO1: Some collective organisations lack resources to have an impact on government decisions AO2: This is because the government may have a monopoly of information or may prevent information reaching the public domain. AO3: We can come to a verdict that for collective organisations to have impact, they have to have substantial resources. AO1: The vast number of collective organisations that exist in UK society often work to cancel each other out. AO2: Diversity thus creates an impotence in power for collective bodies AO3: We can conclude that, because the number of collective organisations have increased in recent years, few have managed to have a radical impact on government decisions impact on government decisions.

AO1: Governments are conscious of effective collective group activity AO2: Governments will avoid head on confrontation with collective bodies if possible, as it may damage their popularity AO3: We can conclude that Governments are mindful of adverse publicity when dealing with pressure groups AO1: Many collective organisations have a powerful political profile (respected think-tanks, lobbyists and insider groups) AO2: Governments respond to these group’s concerned more than others without this profile AO3: We can come to a verdict that it is not a question of whether collective groups have influence but of which ones? AO1: Governments have abandoned their policy agendas as a result of collective group activity AO2: A well organised collective group may be as effective in changing government policy as other powerful groups. AO3: We can come to a judgement that collective groups provide a wealth of information and insight and thus have an impact on government policy. AO1: Many collective organisations have direct input into government policy as a result of financial, political or academic support AO2: Government policy is impacted by collective groups who support the governing party of the time. AO3: We can conclude that collective organisation’s impact on government policy is extensive