1. Influences on Parliamentary Law Making
Pressure Groups

2. Starter Watch the following clip and in your groups discuss:
What they are trying to achieve and why?
Do you think they will be successful? (give Reasons)
What other options do they have to change the law?

3. Fathers for Justice

4. Objectives Describe the main features of a pressure group
Explain why some pressure groups are successful and others are not
Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of Pressure groups as an influence on Parliament

5. What is a pressure group?
Individuals – one to 100,000s
Try to influence parliament to legislate on an issue
Use a variety of methods (try to think of as many ways as possible)
Made more effective if they have media coverage
Two main types:
Sectional (interest groups)
Promotional (cause groups)

6. Types of Groups - fill in the blanks
Type of Pressure Group
Explanation
Illustration
Sectional
Cause

7. Types of Groups - fill in the blanks
Type of Pressure Group
Explanation
Illustration
Sectional
They exist to further the interests of a particular body of people
British Medical Association, Trade Union Congress, National Union of Teachers, Law Society
Cause
They exist to further a particular ideal
Jamie Oliver School dinners, RSPCA Animal Welfare Act 2006

8. Sectional Pressure Groups
Exist to further interests of a section of society
Professional bodies are good examples of these
Degree of influence relies on governmental support for cause
Larger groups better supported as represent large section of society
Large groups are wealthy and can carry electoral support at election time
May have direct access to ministers and MPs
Because of wealth and influence of these groups it is rare for government to introduce a law that affects these groups without consulting them

9. Cause Pressure Groups Promote a particular ideal or belief
Greenpeace – environment; RSPCA – animals; F4J – child access
Influence much less
Less likely to be consulted and less likely to have governmental links
Well publicised groups can have a big impact
RSPCA used many successful methods to be a part of the Animal Welfare Act 2006

10. Cause Pressure Groups Sometimes one person may campaign
Mary Whitehouse had some success Protection of Children Act 1978
Media is very important to these Cause Pressure Groups
For instance Jamie Oliver had some input to the The Education (Nutritional Standards for School Food) (England) Regulations 2007

11. Successes and Failures
Read the three case studies (Supplied on site).
Identify if these are Cause or Sectional Pressure Groups.
Identify if they were successful or not
Try to come up with reasons why they might not have been successful
Do these case studies tell us anything abut the advantages and disadvantages of pressure groups?

12. Advantages Raise public awareness
Raise awareness and remind parliament about the importance of an issue
Some have huge membership (bigger than the the parties)
Possess considerable expertise

13. Disadvantages Biased in favour of their cause
Views held passionately (leads to dodgy tactics)
Outsider groups have no contact with Parliament therefore have limited say in new laws
Opinions held may only be that of a small section of society

14. Plenary Create a pressure group.
Think of a name and a purpose (would you be a sectional or cause group)
What would be your objectives
Devise a set of strategies to make your campaign successful. What would you do?

15. Objectives Describe the main features of a pressure group
Explain why some pressure groups are successful and others are not
Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of Pressure groups as an influence on Parliament

16. Homework
Answer one of these questions and write a full essay (no less than 1 side of A4 typed). You should research your chosen question and think critical about the campaign. I have two films for you to watch as a helpful starter.
Could Jamie Oliver be considered a successful Cause Pressure Group?’ Or
‘Is Gok Wan likely to be a successful cause Pressure group?’