Influences on Parliamentary Law Making

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

7. Types of Groups - fill in the blanks

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?’