Assess the effectiveness of methods other than direct action which a pressure group may exert.

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Assess the effectiveness of methods other than direct action which a pressure group may exert.

Pressure groups can campaign about their cause using either direct action or other non-direct methods.  The direct action can include illegal and general non law abiding ways to make their point heard as quickly as possible.  Examples of the areas in which direct action has been found in the past include, fox hunting protests, protests at environmental damage and the export of live cattle for slaughter in Europe.  The other tactics are different for both ‘insider’ and ‘outsider’ pressure groups

The most important non direct protest which ‘insider’ pressure groups use is amending legislation.  This is where the groups can seek to influence MPs on standing committees to table bids which agree with them or remove anomalies which do not help their cause.  Pressure groups can suggest bills themselves but cannot actually table them as only MPs can.  Although it is sometimes hard to influence the MPs to agree with their aims so the effectiveness is limited

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The next most important non direct protest of an ‘insider’ pressure group is influencing Private Member’s Bills.  Pressure groups can try to influence one of the twenty backbench MPs who are drawn from a ballot to agree with their aims and put forward a Private Member’s Bill in their favour.  This is a very good way of the groups aims being recognised if put through on the bill.  However, only twelve of the twenty chosen usually have parliamentary time to do so.  Also it is hard for your proposition to be picked as the MPs have many to choose from.

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