1. Starter
In your groups discuss ways that we as citizens can get involved with the democratic process

3. Today we will…. Success Criteria
To outline the role of pressure groups and methods used
To evaluate the influence pressure groups can have on the democratic process
Success Criteria
To note the role of pressure groups and methods used by these groups to influence the democratic process.

4. What is a pressure group?
A pressure group is a group of individuals working together in pursuit of a common cause. Pressure groups try to influence public policy through their actions in support of a specific cause
Members of pressure groups join together as they share similar views on a specific issue or a range of issues linked to a them.
Pressure groups are not political parties and do not want to become the government.
It can be difficult for individuals on their own to influence policy and political decisions and a group of like-minded individuals working together can have more impact and can be more successful in getting their concerns heard by the government, the general public and the mass media.

5. Why join a pressure group?
In your group, discuss why you think people would want to join a pressure group.
You have 2 minutes to decide.
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6. Why join a pressure group?
To protest about issues you feel strongly about and get these recognised by those in power
It’s a way of participating in politics out with elections
Strength in numbers
Why join a
pressure group?
To get support from like-minded people
More effective if resources are grouped together (eg. expertise, money, transport)

7. Why are pressure groups powerful?
Members usually pay a membership fee, so there is money to employ full-time staff to organise and fund campaigns.
Membership is nationwide, so the message is broadcast throughout the land.
The media may be attracted to the cause of the pressure group due to the large number of people involved.

8. Why are pressure groups powerful?
The public reaction to the pressure group’s issue, will give the government an idea of how strongly people feel about that issue.
Pressure groups are often very knowledgeable and are experts on an issue, therefore the government will ask for their help when drawing up a Bill:
Eg. RSPCA on animal issues,
Eg. Age Concern when reviewing provision for the elderly.

9. Example: Fathers for Justice
Main aim is to campaign for a child’s right to see both of his or her parents and both sets of grandparents when a couple has separated or divorced.
They draw attention to their cause by dressing up as superheroes and taking part in protest and demonstrations.

10. Types of Pressure Groups
Cause Groups
(Promotional Groups)
Interest Groups
(Sectional Groups)
Feel strongly about a particular cause.
Want to help a group in society:
Eg. elderly, disabled, children, poor
Try to influence public opinion.
Examples:
Shelter – helps the homeless
Amnesty – helps to free political prisoners
Age Concern – helps the elderly
Interested only in representing their members.
May represent groups such as doctors. lawyers, or teachers.
Try to improve conditions for them
Examples:
EIS – Educational Institute of Scotland (teachers)
BMA – British Medical Association (doctors)

11. Answer in full sentences!!!
Starter
What is a pressure group?
Why would someone want to join a pressure group?
What is the difference between a ‘cause group’ and an ‘interest group’?
Give examples of ‘cause groups’ and ‘interest groups’.
Answer in full sentences!!!

12. Insider Groups
Insider groups are seen as helpful by the Government and are often consulted on issues at the earliest stage.
Insider groups have the most power.
Eg. Age Concern

13. Outsider Groups
Outsider groups have less influence over the Government’s decision making process.
Outsider groups are more likely to take part in publicity stunts that attract media attention.
Eg. Fathers for Justice

14. Marching / Demonstrating, Boycott companies Outsider
Pressure Group
Issue
Method
Insider / Outsider
Greenpeace
Pollution
Global Warming
Greenhouse Effect
Leaflets, Posters,
Advertising,
Marching / Demonstrating,
Boycott companies
Outsider
Pressure Group
Issue
Method
Insider / Outsider
Amnesty International
Human Rights Violations
Leaflets, Posters,
Advertising,
Marching / Demonstrating,
Boycott companies
Outsider

15. Scottish Council for Single Homeless Homelessness Lobbying
Pressure Group
Issue
Method
Insider / Outsider
Scottish Council for Single Homeless
Homelessness
Lobbying
- s & Phone calls
Insider
Pressure Group
Issue
Method
Insider / Outsider
Age Concern
Pensions
Lobbying
- s & Phone calls
Insider

16. Pressure Group Issue Method Insider / Outsider
Pressure Group
Issue
Method
Insider / Outsider
Rural
Rebels
Fox hunting
Demonstrations
Blockade on the M74
Foxhounds in Holyrood Park
Outsider

17. Pressure Group
Issue
Method
Insider / Outsider
Greenpeace
Pollution
Global Warming
Greenhouse Effect
Leaflets, Posters,
Advertising,
Marching / Demonstrating,
Boycott companies
Outsider
Amnesty International
Human Rights Violations
Scottish Council for Single Homeless
Homelessness
Lobbying
- s & Phone calls
Insider
Age Concern
Pensions
Rural
Rebels
Fox hunting
School Closures
Demonstrations
Blockade on the M74
Foxhounds in Holyrood Park

18. Pressure Group Methods / Actions
Lobbying MSPs
Letter Writing / s
Mass
Media
Pressure Group Methods / Actions
Public Petitions
Poster & Leaflet Campaigns
Illegal Protests & Publicity Stunts
Marches & Demonstrations

19. Marches and Demonstrations
Thousands or even tens of thousands of people can take to the streets with banners, leaflets and loud speakers (megaphones).
This attracts media attention and can therefore influence the government.
They have a responsibility to inform the police of their demonstration and not break the law.

20. Marches and Demonstrations

21. (April 2009)
Parents from Glasgow expressed their views about school closures by protesting at the school and outside Glasgow City Chambers.

22. Starter
Q1. Describe insider groups, the methods they use and an example of this pressure group
Q2. Describe outsider groups, the methods they use and an example of this pressure group

23. Marches and Demonstrations
For example; In September 2013 thousands of pro-independence campaigners marched through the streets of Edinburgh in support of an independent Scotland.

24. Direct action
This is an action that affects the government or the running of the country. Direct action is often (but not necessarily) illegal. Stunts, strikes, blockades, boycotts and sit ins are all examples of direct action. The Scottish campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (SCND) often holds blockades at Faslane naval base.

25. Public Meetings
Groups attempt to get as many people as possible to attend meetings publicising their aims of the pressure group.
Pressure groups can invite influential people to support their cause and speak at their meeting
Example:
Both ‘Better Together’ and ‘Yes Scotland’ campaigns organised public meetings across Scotland in the build up to the independence referendum in 2014.

26. Contact or Lobby representatives
Individual MSPs will meet with representatives from the pressure group involved and listen to their arguments, the representatives are then able to influence decision makers. They could also attempt to introduce laws that support the aims of the pressure group.
Shelter Scotland’s ‘banish the bedroom tax monster’ campaign involves lobbying the Scottish government to express their opposition of the under-occupancy charges applied to those who claim housing benefit and have a spare bedroom.

27. Professional Lobbyists
Professional lobbyists are people whose job it is to contact the government and persuade them to change the law.
For example;
Wealthy pressure groups like the British Dental Association (Scotland) can employ people to do this. The lobbyists do not necessarily have to agree with the cause they are lobbying.

28. Poster and Leaflet Campaigns
These draw attention to an issue/campaign.
Individuals and the media could be influenced.
Sometimes celebrities are used to draw support for the campaign.
Can persuade people who are not members of the pressure group to write to their representatives, join the pressure group or take action themselves.
For example;
Groups such as the SSPCA and Sense over Sectarianism use controversial and powerful images on posters to get attention for their cause.

29. Mass Media
Mass media is where most people get most of their information about politics.
It therefore has a lot of influence.
Some forms of action, such as marches, demonstrations and petitions will get a lot of coverage in the media.

30. Mass Media Pressure groups can also use the mass media directly.
They can place adverts in newspapers or on television.
Stories and research can be given to key journalists.
Interviews can be given.
Websites can be created and social media used.
For example; In June 2013 the Equality Network created a new campaign video called ‘Its time’ to encourage people to back the introduction of same-sex marriage in Scotland. The video included celebrities like Lorraine Kelly, Alan Cummings and the proclaimers.

31. Petitions
Petitions with a lot of signatures look impressive and can get media attention.
A petition is a way for you to raise an issue with your Parliament. It is a request for action which sets out what you want the Parliament to do and why.
You only need 1 signature to lodge your petition
The Public Petitions Committee (PPC) is made up of 7 MSPs and its role is to consider every admissible petition lodged with the Parliament. So if your petition is admissible it will be looked at by the committee. The committee might invite you to come to a formal meeting to discuss your petition in person.

32. Petitions
Example- In 2009, John Muir brought a 30,000 name petition to the Public Petition Committee after his son Damian was stabbed to death in It calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to introduce mandatory sentencing for persons found carrying knives or other dangerous weapons in public. This petition was used to inform the Criminal Justice and Licencing Bill.

33. Summary

34. Insider Outsider Access to policy makers Usually have a high profile
Have mainstream goals
Tend to have financial stability
Strong leadership
For example;
MENCAP Scotland- a group representing people with mental health disabilities- work closely with the Scottish government to make an impact on mental health issues or policy.
No/limited access to policymakers
May have a low profile
Radical goals
Tend to have a lack of financial stability
Strong grassroots support
For example;
PETA Scotland- people for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Scotland)- aim to protect the rights of all animals.

35. Interest Cause Promote a cause Open membership
Focus on concerns that affect the masses- a group for the people
Benefit others or wider society
Members usually make donations
For example;
The FBU (Fire Brigades Union) Scotland- is the voice of fire fighters and the fire, rescue service in Scotland.
Defend interests
Closed membership
Focus on concerns that affect specific groups- a group for certain individuals.
Benefits members only
Members usually pay fees
For example;
ASH Scotland- Action on Smoking and Health (Scotland)- work to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco.

36. Responsibility of pressure groups
Pressure groups have rights and responsibilities when participating in the democratic process. Their rights allow them to use certain methods to make the public aware of their views, but there rights are also balanced by responsibilities. The responsibilities pressure groups have usually determine the way they can behave in particular situations.
The right to freedom of expression is regarded as one of the most important human rights. Many of the rights that pressure groups have are based on the principles of feedom of expression.

37. Rights Responsibilities
The right to free assembly (protest) allows group members to meet to discuss and promote their views
The organiser needs to tell the police in writing six days before a protest is held. The police must be informed of the date and time of the protest, the route and the names of addresses of the organisers. The protestors also must stay within the limits of the law.
The right to criticise (comment on negatively) the government or other organisations
Not to tell lies about people or organisations. If the group is slanderous (tells lies that will harm the reputation of another) it is going against defamation laws and they could be sued
The right to promote their cause using methods such as he mass media, leaflets and poster.
To give accurate information. If the laws of libel are broken then the pressure group can find itself in trouble. Misrepresenting their cause can damage a pressure groups reputation.

38. Which methods do you think are
Discuss in your groups
Which methods do you think are
(a) Most effective and WHY???
(b) Least effective and WHY???

39. P E oint xplain xample 8 marks 4 marks = 2 PEEs 6 marks = 3 PEEs
Describe, in detail, two methods used by the group you have selected to gain influence in a democracy. Choose one the following groups: Pressure Groups or Trade Unions.
8 marks P E
oint
xplain
xample
4 marks = 2 PEEs
6 marks = 3 PEEs
8 marks = 4 PEEs

40. Example answer P E
One method pressure groups use to influence the Government is Public Petitions.
This is when pressure groups try to collect as many signatures as possible in support of their issue. Petition’s can be powerful because if they receive over 100,000 signatures they can be considered by MPs for a debate in Parliament, but they are usually used in conjunction with another methods.
For example, in 2006, pupils from All Saints Secondary took their petition to Parliament about reducing the price of alcohol to the Scottish Government.