Groups following proceedings (8)
I believe the answer is:
factions
'groups' is the definition.
The answer is an example.
'following proceedings' is the wordplay.
'following' becomes 'f.' (used when citing page numbers etc).
'proceedings' becomes 'actions' (action is a kind of proceeding).
'f'+'actions'='FACTIONS'
(Other definitions for factions that I've seen before include "Active or trouble-making groups within larger organizations" , "Groups that are part of a larger group" .)