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 their members 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 pressure Groups powerful? Nationwide membership Amnesty international has Over 1 million members. Media attention Reports what the groups Are trying to achieve 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 strength Members may have To pay a joining Fee and this gives The pressure Group money to fund campaigns

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

They share the view about How life could be improved They have a “cause” which They believe in e.g. a ban On all blood sports. They want to change public Opinion on an issue. If they achieve their goal They 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

They look after the interests Of a group. For example Trade unions seek To promote the welfare of their Members. All who have a common Interest. They are concerned with Social, economic and 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 government As potentially helpful and are consulted on issues. Outsider groups do NOT wield as much power as they 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 called to formulate policy Professional lobbying Paying professionals to Lobby decision makers. Lobbying MPs/MSPs Usually takes place in Conjunction with a petition Or march. MSPs would Meet representatives and Listen to their arguments Public Petitions Often hundreds of Thousands of people Will sign for or against A proposal Poster and leaflet Campaign. Used to draw attention to a campaign. Mass Media. Petitions, marches Posters gain a lot of Attention and PGs can Use the media to get to A huge audience. Letter writing Thousands of letters Being sent directly to Representatives. Direct Mailing Contacting people To ask for financial Support and to take action FOR EXAMPLE: The make poverty History marches in London and Edinburgh FOR EXAMPLE The SNOWDROP Campaign to ban handguns Received 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, he announced that there would be a freeze on fuel taxes. The direct action worked!

Examples of direct Action. Greenpeace also make use of direct action and this can be somewhat aggressive. In 2000 Greenpeace ambushed a ship carrying GM 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 action Some pressure group members Are willing to break the law. E.g. Animal rights campaigners have Broken 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 Law and order is a devolved matter so this pressure group can have direct influence on decision making in Scotland.

“ Sectarianism, racism and bigotry have No place in modern Scotland. Everyone’s Religious beliefs should be respected and Celebrated.” -Nil By Mouth’s charter for change.

Organisations they Have called upon To bring this change The Scottish Govt and LA’s to Promote anti-sectarianism Through education. Rangers and Celtic To agree to introduce Measure to reduce Sectarianism among Supporter. Employers (for both paid And voluntary work) to ensure Employees know it will not be tolerated. The Scottish parliament Should monitor how the Police deal with such offences The churches to preach A strong anti-sectarian Message 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