1. Other Ways to Influence
the Government
Besides voting in elections, people can find other ways to
participate in democracy.
They can contact (Write a letter, email, phone, etc.) their MP,
MLA, or civil servants with their opinions about important
issues.
It is usually more effective to join a group of like minded
people committed to a specific goal.

3. Pressure Groups
(Special Interest Groups)
Are people who
share a certain viewpoint and want to
influence (pressure) government to make
changes.
Also called
Non Governmental Organizations-(NGOs)
Work to improve people’s lives and
Are non-profit organizations

5. Ex. Pressure Groups
Greenpeace Amnesty International
See fig. 10-14 TB 259

6. How do Interest
Groups achieve their
goal?

7. 1. Lobbyists
Someone who is paid to
represent the interests of a
pressure group by influencing
the lawmakers.
How do Lobbyists work?
Try to influence key decisions
makers
politicians, bureaucrats, and
parliamentary committees.
Use media, and important people
(politicians, celebrities) to achieve
goal

9. Problem with Lobbyists
May persuade government to put in place
policies that
favour their group, but may not best for all
Canadians.
Well-funded groups with professional
lobbyists can have a great influence over
government policy.
So the wishes of a minority group may be
heard over the wishes of the majority.

11. Examples:
1. Tobacco Company Lobby
Fought government efforts to limit
advertising for tobacco products.
Fight programs that educate the public of
the dangers of smoking.
2. Car Manufacturers
Lobby against environmental policies like
reducing greenhouse gas emissions
because it costs them money.

14. 2. Court Cases
Interest groups can use the courts to
influence government.
They can
take the government to court and
have a law struck down.

16. Positive Results of some
Special Interest Groups
Help write new legislation
Environmental protection
New government services
Increased funding for research projects

17. Example:
Craig Kielburger
Organization
Free the Children – started when he was 12
Goal
End child labour and protect children’s rights
How?
Wrote letters, petitions, spoke out in
school, the community, the media, then world
leaders.
http://www.freethechildren.com/images/video
_speaking.htm

18. Craig Kielburger (age 12), founder of Free the Children, meets with
Prime Minister Jean Cretien to discuss child labour in Pakistan and
India.

20. Role of Mass Media
Media
Television, magazines, newspapers
Job
Communicate ideas and information
Power
Can criticize and influence government
Result
Issues covered by the media are
given more attention.
Issues not covered by the media
may be ignored.

21. Problem:
Media Concentration
Ownership of
media in the
hands of a few.
(Causes biased
reporting)
Ex. CanWest
Global owns the
Province and Sun
newspaper and
Global BC.

23. Protest Groups
Use actions like:
rallies, parades, marches
, blockades, and public
demonstrations
to draw attention to their
cause.

24. Civil Disobedience
Act of intentionally breaking the law while
protesting laws one considers unjust.
3 principles:
1. Should NOT involve violence
2. Should be directed against laws that are
seriously harmful
3. Requires taking responsibility for one’s
actions and be willing to face punishment.

26. Ex. Martin Luther King Jr.
I submit that an individual who
breaks a law that conscience
tells him is unjust, and who
willingly accepts the penalty of
imprisonment in order to arouse
the conscience of the community
over its injustice, is in reality
expressing the highest respect
for the law.
It may be true that the law
cannot make a man love me, but
it can stop him from lynching
me, and I think that's pretty
important.

27. Mahatma Ghandi
Violence breeds violence...
Pure goals can never justify
impure or violent action...
I object to violence because
when it appears to do
good, the good is only
temporary; the evil it does is
permanent.
An eye for an eye makes the
whole world blind.

29. The Clayoquot Sound Protest
Goal –
to prevent loggers from clear cutting the old
growth forests in the Clayoquot Sound
How?
Civil Disobedience –
Protesters peacefully blocked logging roads
using “sit-downs”
Result
800 arrested, received warnings, fines or
sentences. Issue brought to public attention.
In 2000, Clayoquot Sound was designated a
UN biosphere reserve.