METHODS PRESSURE GROUPS USE TO INFLUENCE

Question 1

POINT - PETITIONS

Answer 1

Explain - A petition shows how many people support a group and may persuade representatives to take action or risk losing
Example - The Scottish Parliament re-appealed the ‘Offensive Behaviour Football Act’ due to 6,400 signatures

Question 2

POINT - DEMONSTRATIONS

Answer 2

Explain - demonstrations can be large or small forms of protests. This attracts publicity and shows the strength of support from a pressure group.
Example - most MSP’s now support getting rid of nuclear weapons after years of protest

Question 3

POINT - LETTER WRITING

Answer 3

Explain- it shows an MSP the amount of support an issue has from voters in their constituency and they may be worried they would lose votes in the next
election
Example - In 2017 the Scottish government ordered a scheme to study its introduction and in 2018 announced plans to bring it in.