Government and Decision Making in Scotland

1
Government and Decision Making in Scotland

• Pressure Groups

2
Aims and Objectives

• By the end of the lesson you should be aware of
• What a Pressure Group is
• What the aims of Pressure Groups are
• The different types of Pressure Groups

3
Revision

• Over the last week we looked at the media and the
  influence it has on decision making
• Answer the following question on lined paper
• Describe the ways in which the media can affect
  decision making in the Scottish Parliament.
• Use examples to illustrate your answer
• Intermediate 2 8 marks
• Intermediate 1 4 marks

4
Pressure Groups

• A Pressure Group is an organisation that seeks to
  influence the government
• Members of a Pressure Group are not elected
• In the UK membership of political parties is low
  but membership of Pressure Groups is high runs
  into thousands!

• Membership of political parties has been falling
  over the last couple of years whereas membership
  of Pressure Groups has been rising
• Can you think of any reasons why?

5
Aims of Pressure Groups

• The aim of all pressure groups is to influence
  the people who have the power to make decisions
• Pressure Groups provide a way for people to
  participate in national politics between elections

• They are sometimes able to gather sufficient
  support to force the government to amend or even
  scrap legislation
• How many Pressure Groups can you name?

6
Methods used by Pressure Groups

• Pressure Groups can use a variety of methods to
  influence decision making
• They can inform the Scottish Executive what they
  would like changed and even propose their own bill

• They can also carry out actions that may be
  noticed by both the public and media
• Can you think of any?
• One to start you off could be petitions

7
Methods
Methods can either be legal or illegal
Making appointments with representatives
Marches
Give advice to the Government
Demonstrations
Lobbying representatives
Writing Letters
Petitions
Interviews with the media
Public Speeches
8
Activity

• With the person sitting next to you discuss which
  method would be most influential and which would
  be least influential in campaigning to bring back
  the troops from Iraq

9
Legal Methods

• These are methods which do not break the law
• These methods involve carrying out actions
  responsibly and peacefully

10
Illegal Methods

• These are methods which break the law
• These methods can involve violence and blockades
• Can you think of any illegal methods used by
  Pressure Groups that have been on the news?

11
Types of Pressure Groups

• Pressure Groups can be divided into 2 main groups
  insider and outsider
• Turn to pages 68 and 69 of your unit

• Insider Pressure Groups have close links with
  decision makers and are regularly consulted by
  them. They may attend meetings with ministers to
  share their expertise.
• Use your unit to make your own notes on Insider
  Pressure Groups

12
Outsider Groups

• These groups work outside the realms of
  governmental decision making
• They have fewer opportunities to influence the
  decision making process

• Both insider and outsider groups can be further
  categorised as either sectional or promotional
  pressure groups
• Use page 69 of your unit to summarise what this
  means

13
Next Lesson

• We will continue looking at Pressure Groups and
  examine some case studies