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. Financial strength Members may have To pay a joining Fee and this gives The pressure Group money to fund campaigns

Homework for Tuesday Research and find out names of 3 pressure groups you didn’t know about Get the following info. about each one: 1.Aims 2.Methods 3.Successes/Failures

Pressure Groups RightResponsibility

Rights and Responsibilities Right to criticise government or other organisations Responsibility not to tell lies

Rights and Responsibilities Right to hold meetings and events Responsibility – meetings and events should be peaceful

Rights and Responsibilities Right to protest and demonstrate Responsibility to obey the law

Rights and Responsibilities Right to use the media for publicity Responsibility to give accurate information

Credit KU Practise Describe, in detail, four rights pressure groups have and the responsibilities that go with these rights. 8 marks

Why join a pressure group? Creates lots of publicity for your cause

Why join a pressure group? Creates lots of publicity for your cause More chance of being successful if lots of people involved

Why join a pressure group? Creates lots of publicity for your cause More chance of being successful if lots of people involved You can share knowledge with government who might take your advice

Why join a pressure group? Creates lots of publicity for your cause More chance of being successful if lots of people involved You can share knowledge with government who might take your advice Gain personal benefits, e.g. trade unions try to get better wages for workers

Why join a pressure group? Creates lots of publicity for your cause More chance of being successful if lots of people involved You can share knowledge with government who might take your advice Gain personal benefits, e.g. trade unions try to get better wages for workers More people’s aims can be achieved

How do pressure groups campaign?

How pressure groups campaign 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. Demonstrations People gather to protest about an issue

Pressure Groups Task… For each of the following state why it is a good way to influence the government: 1.Letter Campaign 2.Petitions 3.Demonstrations 4.Involving the media 5.Poster/Leaflet campaign

Examples of Pressure Group methods in action… Letter Campaign The Make Poverty History campaign organised for letters and postcards to be sent to Prime Minister before G8 summit (meeting of world powers)

Examples of Pressure Group methods in action… Petitions After the killing of school children by a gunman in 1996, the “Snowdrop” campaign organised a successful petition which persuaded the government to ban hand guns.

Examples of Pressure Group methods in action… Demonstrations The “Stop the War Coalition” marches against the war in Iraq were some of the largest ever seen in the UK.

Examples of Pressure Group methods in action… Involving the media For example, the celebrity support of Bob Gedolf and Bono and the Live 8 concert gave the Make Poverty History Campaign worldwide media attention

Examples of Pressure Group methods in action… Poster/Leaflet campaign Nil By Mouth have organised poster campaigns in recent years to try to stamp out sectarianism

Examples of Protests Pressure Group: UK Uncut Purpose- to protest about big companies like Starbucks not paying their taxes. Method of Protest: Sit ins. Protesters staged protests at different Starbucks throughout the country in December /08/starbucks-uk-stores-protests-taxhttp:// /08/starbucks-uk-stores-protests-tax

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 Local Authorities 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

The Scottish countryside alliance A powerful pressure group in Scotland. They can have an impact on decision made in Scotland. They are involved in a number of campaign in Scotland.

Exam Practice Describe, in detail, four methods used by pressure groups to 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. (KU, 4 Marks)

Model answer… Point – One method pressure groups use is to protest. Explain – This is where pressure groups show the strength and support for their cause and put pressure on the government. Example – For example, the Stop the War Coalition’s marches against the Iraq war put pressure on the government. 2 marks