What are pressure groups?

• A pressure group is made up of like minded people who have come together because they feel strongly about an issue.

WE ALL LOVE MODERN STUDIES!!

Pressure groups

• Pressure groups try and put pressure on a number of different people or organisations especially the government, local authorities , businesses or the media.

Why put pressure on individuals,Parties, organisations or

The government?

To get something done or changed

Improve conditions for theirmembers

To stop something from happening

Pressure groups

• Pressure groups are more powerful than individuals as people working together have the potential to be more influential than one person on their own.

• UNITY IS STRENGTH!

What makes pressureGroups powerful?

Nationwide membershipNationwide membershipAmnesty international hasOver 1 million members.

Media attentionMedia attentionReports what the groups Are trying to achieve

Govt may ask for their help.Govt may ask for their help.Pressure groups tend to know all about a particular area and tend to be experts. So the govt may ask them for advice when introducing a new law or change in a law. (See booklet for examples).

Financial strengthFinancial strengthMembers may haveTo pay a joiningFee and this givesThe pressure Group money to fundcampaigns

• Cause groups exist to put forward a SINGLE OBJECTIVE.

• Two examples of cause groups:– The campaign to discourage smoking

(ASH).– The campaign for nuclear disarmament

(CND).

CAUSE GROUPS

CAUSE GROUPS

They share the view aboutThey share the view aboutHow life could be improvedHow life could be improved

They have a “cause” whichThey have a “cause” whichThey believe in e.g. a banThey believe in e.g. a banOn all blood sports.On all blood sports.

They want to change publicThey want to change publicOpinion on an issue.Opinion on an issue.

If they achieve their goalIf they achieve their goalThey can be disbandedThey can be disbanded

Cause groups

• Cause groups pursue objectives that are not directly linked to the advancement of the members.

• They are united by the similar view its members have about how society can improve.

• More examples of cause groups:– Anti fox-hunting group, – anti-abortion group.

• They exist to advance the economic and professional interest of their members.

• Interest groups have a vested interest in a particular section of society.

• EIS- for teachers

INTEREST GROUP

INTEREST GROUP

They look after the interestsThey look after the interestsOf a group.Of a group.For example Trade unions seekFor example Trade unions seekTo promote the welfare of theirTo promote the welfare of theirMembers. All who have a commonMembers. All who have a commonInterest.Interest.

They are concerned withThey are concerned withSocial, economic and Social, economic and Political interests.Political interests.

Pressure groups power in policy making

• The amount of power a pressure group will have depends largely on its status.

• There are “Insider” and “outsider” groups.

Insider groups are regarded by the governmentInsider groups are regarded by the governmentAs potentially helpful and are consulted on issues.As potentially helpful and are consulted on issues.

Outsider groups do NOT wield as much power as theyOutsider groups do NOT wield as much power as theyAre NOT asked to consult with the government.Are NOT asked to consult with the government.

Insider and Outsider Pressure Groups

• Nil By Mouth are an Insider Group as the Scottish Government asked them for advice on the Sectarianism Bill.

• PETA are an outsider Group as they are not consulted by the government and don’t want to have a ‘cosy’ relationship with them

How do pressure groups

participate?

Success Criteria

• Pupils will be able to:– Describe methods used by pressure

groups to influence governments.– Explain how each method influences the

government.– Give relevant examples from Scotland of

pressure groups and their methods used and the degree to which this has been successful.

How pressure groups

Influence government policy

Insider groups have access to information and are often calledto formulate policy

Professional lobbyingPaying professionals toLobby decision makers.

Lobbying MPs/MSPsUsually takes place in Conjunction with a petitionOr march. MSPs would Meet representatives andListen to their arguments

Public PetitionsOften hundreds ofThousands of people Will sign for or againstA proposal

Poster and leafletCampaign.Used to draw attention to a campaign.

Mass Media.Petitions, marchesPosters gain a lot of Attention and PGs canUse the media to get toA huge audience.

Letter writing Thousands of lettersBeing sent directly toRepresentatives.

Direct MailingContacting peopleTo ask for financialSupport and to takeaction

FOR EXAMPLE:The make povertyHistory marches in

London and Edinburgh

FOR EXAMPLEThe SNOWDROP

Campaign to ban handgunsReceived ¾ million

signatures

Direct Action

• Some groups will “blackmail” the government through direct action.

EXAMPLE:In 2000 the fuel tax protest led to panic buying in petrol stations.

By the end of 2000, in the Chancellor’s budget statement, heannounced that there would be a freeze on fuel taxes.

The direct action worked!

Examples of directAction.

Greenpeace also make use of direct actionand this can be somewhat aggressive. In2000 Greenpeace ambushed a ship carryingGM soybeans into the UK. On 25/02/08 Greenpeace members climbed aboard a plane on Heathrow to protest against a third runway.

Tuition Fees Protests Students organised marches through London. Some students rioted and got a lot of publicity from fighting with the police.

Illegal direct actionSome pressure group membersAre willing to break the law. E.g.Animal rights campaigners haveBroken into labs and “freed” animals.Others have threatened scientists Who test on animals

Pressure Groups

CASE STUDIES…

Pressure group case study

• It is important when answering a question on pressure groups that you include examples.

• In our case the examples should be from SCOTLAND.

NIL BY MOUTH

Nil by mouth

• Nil by mouth is an anti-sectarian charity.

• Set up in 2000 after a Glasgow schoolboy was the victim of a brutal sectarian murder in 1995.

• Law and order is a devolved matter so this pressure group can have direct influence on decision making in Scotland.

“ Sectarianism, racism and bigotry haveNo place in modern Scotland. Everyone’sReligious beliefs should be respected andCelebrated.”

-Nil By Mouth’s charter for change.

Organisations they Have called upon

To bring thischange

The ScottishGovt and LA’s toPromote anti-sectarianismThrough education.

Rangers and CelticTo agree to introduceMeasure to reduce Sectarianism amongSupporter.

Employers (for both paid And voluntary work) to ensureEmployees know it will not be tolerated.

The Scottish parliamentShould monitor how thePolice deal with such offences

The churches to preachA strong anti-sectarianMessage and to work Together across faiths

Exam Practice

Describe, in detail ways in which pressure groups can influence the government.

• In your answer you should:– Give at least two relevant ways

pressure groups influence government.– Explain how your chosen ways influence

government– Give relevant examples from Scotland.

(8 Marks).

DVD notes

We are going to watch a video about Sectarianism in Scotland. As you watch take notes on the following:

• The problem of Sectarianism• What the government is doing to

solve the problem of Sectarianism