1. Legal Methods Used by Pressure Groups
Pressure Groups Use a number of legal methods to get their point across.
Letter Writing Campaigns
One person writing a letter to their local
councillor, MP or MSP can be easily ignored.
However, if thousands of letters are sent
decision makers are more likely to take notice!
Example – Tens of thousands of letters sent to
local politicians regarding the possible closure
of Ayr Hospital’s A&E Department in 2007
Lobbying Decision Makers
Individuals representing a pressure
group may meet with local councillors
MPs, MSPs or Business owners face
to face to try and influence their
opinions and make them aware of
the issues. The goal here is to
persuade them to support the
pressure groups campaign.
Example – Representatives meeting with Scotland’s Housing and Welfare
minister to discuss helping homeless people during the winter.
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2. Petitions
Pressure groups will try to convince
MPs, MSPs etc. about the strength of
feelings on an issue by presenting a
petition. Often hundreds of thousands
of people will have signed for or
against an issue. This looks impressive
and can be hard to ignore!
Example – Snowdrop campaign against
handguns received three quarter of a
million signatures. The most successful
petition campaign in recent history!
Marches & Demonstrations
Thousands or even tens of
thousands of people can take
to the streets with banners,
leaflets and loudspeakers.
The more people, the stronger
the message.
Example – Anti-war demonstrations
during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.
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3. Poster & Leaflet Campaigns
Pressure groups may give out leaflets
In busy pedestrian areas or deliver
them to homes. These leaflets provide
the general public with information on
an issue. Pressure groups may also
invest in poster and billboard
campaigns. These will have eye
catching slogans and easily read short
bursts of information.
Example – NSPCC’s billboard campaign
highlighting the issue of child abuse.
The Media
Pressure groups can use newspapers,
and television to get their message across.
The internet and social media are now also
heavily used by pressure groups.
Nearly all pressure groups have their own
website that provides information, the
opportunity to sign online petitions, join the group,
and buy merchandise.
Example – The World Wildlife Fund has a
Website that provides campaign info, and has
an online shop!
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4. Individual Activities
The legal methods used by Pressure groups are designed to one or more of the following
aims:
Raise awareness amongst the general public and decision makers.

Raise funds

Put pressure on decision makers

Media Attention
Study the legal methods and complete the table
Legal Method
Letter Writing
Campaigns
Petitions
Demonstrations
& Marches
Lobbying
Leaflets &
Posters
The media
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Raise
Awareness
Raise
Funds
Put Pressure
on
Government
Media
Attention
How are the
Aim/s met?
The letters
contain
information on
the issue = raise
awareness.
Lots of letters
are hard to
ignore = put
pressure on the
politicians which
in turn will put
pressure on the
Gov.

5. Activity PEEL Paragraphs
You have already created some simple PEEL paragraphs in S2.
REMEMBER!
P = Point
E = Explanation
E = Example
L = Link
Describe the legal methods used by pressure groups.
Copy the model paragraph below and then complete one on your own.
Point = One legal method used by pressure groups is a letter writing
campaign.
Explanation = a letter writing campaign is when instead of one individual
sending a letter about an issue to a decision maker, thousands of people send
letters to them. This is hard to ignore and puts pressure on the Government.
Example = An example of a letter writing campaign was when thousands of
people sent letters to local politicians regarding the possible closure of the
A&E at Ayr Hospital in 2007.
Link = Therefore, letter writing is a legal method used by pressure groups.
Another legal method used by a pressure group is ………………………
A ………………………… is when………………………
An example of a ……………………….. is ……………….
Therefore, …………………………….is another legal method used by pressure groups.
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