The Role of Pressure Groups in the Political System Lesson Starter Brainstorm what you know already about pressure groups. Pressure Groups

Today we will… Understand the impact of Pressure Groups in the UK. Outline the different types of pressure groups in the UK.

Success Criteria Explain the difference between ‘insider’ and ‘outsider’ pressure groups. Assess the impact of Pressure groups on decision making by looking at case studies.

The Impact of Pressure Groups The founding principles of the Scottish Parliament give pressure groups an opportunity to directly influence government policy. Pressure groups can be highly influential in their decision making. This can be attributed to the Freedom of Information laws and the growth of social networking sites. Pressure groups covering devolved issues such as health, education and justice will have a very strong focus in the parliament. Many UK based pressure groups have a designated Scottish section which would deal with Scottish issues.

The rise of Pressure Groups Less people nowadays join political parties More people are members of pressure Groups A Report The POWER INQUIRY published in March, 2006 claims that people are just as interested in politics as they were in the past BUT They feel disengaged with conventional politics in the form of parties and elections They believe more in direct action through Pressure groups Pressure groups have engaged more young people Think, Pair, Share Can you think of single issues which caused young people to participate in politics and try and influence decision making?

Pressure Group methods Pressure groups will use different methods to try and get public support or to influence the government. They could: Protest/demonstrate Organisation a petition Boycott Use social media Website Poster/leaflet/letter campaigns Get a celebrity member Get political support – MSP/MP member Pay a professional lobbyist Sometimes these legal methods are not enough and some Pressure groups will break the law. This can be risky, as you risk losing public support Stand and Deliver Task Academic Task: Remember all the methods pressure groups use. Social Task: Help each other

Pressure Groups in Scotland and the UK Freedom to Choose Scotland Electoral Reform Society The Fawcett Society The Taxpayers’ Alliance Britain in Europe Wings Over Scotland Reform Child Poverty Action Group

Different Types of Pressure Groups Pressure Groups Cause Groups Interest Groups Interest groups exist to advance the economic or professional interests of their members. Trade Unions and employers association constitute a significant influence on policy shaping. These groups have a vested interest in a particular section of society and they strive to recruit these people. Examples include teachers, doctors, lawyers.

Insider Pressure GroupOutsider Pressure Group Usually have expert knowledge on an issue Have access to government and are often consulted and listened to by government when deciding on policies, new laws/changes to laws. Work within the law. Are on the ‘outside’ of the decision making process and have less influence on government. Government does not consult with them. Usually use methods that they hope will gain lots of media attention. Sometimes this involves illegal methods. Mass demonstration on its own may or may not work in the long term, several effective mass demonstrations against the Government may move public opinion against the Government and lose it votes in future elections. Types of Pressure Groups

Power in Policy Making Insider Groups The amount of power a pressure group will have will depend largely on the status of the group. “Insider” groups wield the most. They are regarded by the government as potentially helpful and therefore they are very often consulted on issues at the earliest stages. Some of the Insider groups are essential to how policy is formed as they have expertise in their field. BMA are well equipped to give advice to policy makers on health issues and The Police Federation are a vital part of policy on crime. Insider groups have the advantage that they are needed for their knowledge and they can therefore use this expert influence. They will never break the law. Insider group can often provide evidence in support of government policy. This helps ministers if they need to give evidence to committees

Power in Policy Making Insider Groups Depending on who is government, insider pressure groups can change. For example, the Countryside Alliance were not used when Labour were in power because they wanted to ban fox hunting. This meant that the Countryside Alliance were an outsider group and had to use more extreme methods. The Conservatives are now in power and therefore the status of this group has shifted again. Within the Scottish Government, SNP will take advice from the Business for Scotland group rather than CBI as they gave money to the Better Together campaign.

Power in Policy Making Insider Group Methods Insider groups give expert advice and knowledge in return for their views to be taken on board. They also lobby MPs and Departments. Lobbying is a form of persuasion. Insider groups often hire professional lobbyists to do the job. While insider groups are in a very good position to shape policy at the earliest stages they also have limitations because of their close relationship with the government. They are expected to respect and observe confidentiality. This would mean that they would not be able to drum up support for their views with the public. Insider groups will rarely organise demonstrations or marches. Instead, they will rely on regular meetings with Government, often behind the scenes away from the cameras to influence decision making.

Pressure Group Case Study The Electoral Reform Society Cause Group Insider Group Their aim is to build a better democracy for Britain. ‘Making politics fit for the 21 st century’ Areas of focus: Votes at 16 Change the voting system from FPTP to a more proportional system Lack of diversity in politics- lack of women and the dominance of a political class Introduction on STV in England and Wales for local council elections

Pressure Group Case Study Child Poverty Action Group Works to raise awareness on the devastating impact that poverty can have a on a child’s life. They ‘seek out every opportunity to raise the profile of child poverty in Scotland in the media, the political arena, the public consciousness and relevant professional contexts’ Areas of focus: Free School meals Scottish Campaign on welfare reform Solutions and end to child poverty in the UK and Scotland People Like Us Campaign

Pressure Group Case Study What CPAG has achieved. Preventing more benefit cuts: A number of key benefits rose by 5.2 percent in April 2012 in line with the Consumer Price Index. CPAG was vocal in persuading ministers that these benefits should not be cut again. £500m a year more childcare: As families have been hit hard by the Coalition Government’s spending cuts, CPAG has played a leading role in securing this extra money to help working parents on low incomes. A legal duty to end child poverty by 2020: CPAG worked with members of the End Child Poverty campaign to call for the Child Poverty Act (2010) which places legal duties on central and local government to work to end child poverty by 2020.

You will be given a hand out on two pressure groups. Academic Task- to outline the successes and failures of two pressure groups. Instructions: Both persons silently read the first section. Person A summarises the content to Person B. Pair discusses. Move on to the next section and repeat the procedure and Person B summarises. Continue until the passage is finished. Paired Reading Activity

Discussion Question: Are Pressure Groups Good or Bad for Democracy? Using the key words listed below, create a list which shows both sides of the argument. ParticipationDemocratic Break the lawMinority MoneyPower Example: Some groups have more money than others therefore have more influence.

Are Pressure Groups Good or Bad for Democracy? Good Allow participation in democratic process Can raise awareness between elections Give minority groups a voice Raise issues of importance Make decision makers aware For each of these you would need to illustrate with examples

Bad Some groups more powerful than others Money talks Insider groups have privileged access Secret deals are bad for democracy No pressure group represents over 50% of public Should not hold government to ransom Should not break the law Again illustrate with examples Are Pressure Groups Good or Bad for Democracy?

Exam Skills: Reading for Information The best essays have good exemplification. You will be given a hand-out which contains lots of examples of the work of different pressure Groups. As you read, highlight the key points of information: The name of the Pressure Group The work that they do Success and Failures

Exam Task To what extent do pressure groups influence decision making in Scotland and the UK. (12) Using your hand-out, prepare an essay plan which would answer this question. Use this structure: Paragraph 1 Up to 6 marks 3 KU points 1.Insider Pressure Groups- listened to by government 2.Outside Pressure Groups- don’t have as much influence 3.Case Study- ERS/ CPAG- success/ failures of campaigns Paragraph 2 Up to 6 marks 3 KU points 3 evaluative comments Balance your argument

Exam Task Analyse the ways in which citizens can influence decision making – 12 marks Evaluate the influence citizens have on the political system and decision making – 12 marks Unelected bodies can influence decision making in parliament. Discuss – 20 marks

Was I successful? I can explain the difference between ‘insider’ and ‘outsider’ pressure groups. I can assess the impact of Pressure groups on decision making by looking at case studies.