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• Health inequality in the USA

  Unlike the UK, no universal free healthcare system. Americans expected to have private health insurance, mostly from employer.
• Ways to tackle health inequality

  1. Medicare - programme covering those who cannot afford private insurance, administered by federal government, for over 65s

  2. Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) - passed in 2010 to enhance quality and affordability of healthcare
• In 2020, Medicare covered over 62 million Americans
• Black Americans


  More likely to have lower incomes, be unemployed, less likely to have private health insurance, more likely to be covered by Medicare or uninsured
• In 2021, 10 percent of Americans did not have health insurance
• Every Student Succeeds Act - 2015

  1. Provide fair, high-quality education

  2. Close attainment gap
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

  Federal government gives money to states to provide for families' basic needs, used for cash assistance, childcare, education
• 3.8% of Americans are currently in poverty, unable to meet their needs
• Discrimination


  Black Americans paid less than whites for same job, 10% pay gap
• Obamacare (Affordable Care Act)

  1. Introduced in 2010 to tackle health insurance inequalities

  2. Made healthcare more affordable

  3. Helped over 40 million poor Americans receive health insurance
• Every Student Succeeds Act - 2015

  1. Created more fair, high-quality education

  2. Aimed to close attainment gap

  3. Made exam results state responsibility rather than federal
• African Americans


  More likely to be unemployed, have higher dropout rates, less qualified
• In 2023, black unemployment rate was 5.5%, higher than the 3.6% average
• Asians


  More likely to have better education, very low dropout rates, highest SAT scores
• Discrimination


  Blacks paid less than whites for same job, 10% pay gap
• Racism


  America has long history of racism towards ethnic minorities, hard legacy to overcome, may explain 21% black poverty rate vs 10% white
• Sexism


  Women historically viewed as inferior, more likely to fulfil caregiver/mother stereotypes and less likely to work, white women make 25% less than white men
• Children's Hearing System


  Listens and makes legal decisions with and for children and young people
• Children's Hearing System process

  1. Panel of volunteers hear information from young people and key adults

  2. Panel makes decisions, e.g. imposing a compulsory supervision order stating where the young person must live
• Role of Children's Hearing System

  Deals with young people who are committing offences
• Process for dealing with young offenders

  1. Panel hears concerns about a child who has been breaking the law

  2. Panel and other organisations work to address the reasons the crimes are taking place
• 75% of referrals to the Children's Hearing System come from the police
• Role of Children's Hearing System

  Protects and supports vulnerable children and young people
• Between 2021-22 the Children's Hearing System held over 21,000 hearings to protect and support nearly 11,000 children
• Power of Children's Hearing System

  Can have a child supervised in their home through a Compulsory Supervision Order
• Power of Children's Hearing System

  Can remove a child from their home through a Compulsory Supervision Order, placing them in a Children's home, Foster home or residential school
• Power of Children's Hearing System

  Can issue a Warrant to Secure Attendance to allow the police to seek out and take into custody a child or young person who did not attend a hearing or is believed to be in immediate danger
• The Warrant allows the police to break down locked doors to secure attendance
• Pressure group


  An organised group that does not put up candidates for election but seeks to influence government policy or legislation
• Pressure groups


  • Often contain people who all believe strongly in the same cause or issue
  • Individuals may join to have more impact by campaigning with other people
• Pressure groups


  • Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
  • Child Poverty Action Group
  • Greenpeace
• Joining a pressure group


  Can have more of an impact by campaigning with other people
• Greenpeace has 11,000 Scottish members, this gives it strength in numbers and increases its chances of influencing the government
• Pressure groups


  Can put pressure on the Government to make changes in policy and legislation
• Pressure groups


  • Animal welfare and animal rights
  • Environmental, eg climate change
  • Human rights
  • LGBTQ+ rights
• Pressure group influence in Scotland


  • Protesting and demonstrating
  • Holding public meetings
  • Lobbying
  • Petitions
  • Media activity
  • Influencing legislation
  • Legal action
• In 2016 supporters of Scottish independence including members of 'Yes Scotland' group demonstrated in George Square, Glasgow. This put pressure on the government to give more powers to the devolved Scottish Parliament
• Pressure groups can organise public meetings for example, a meeting in a village to discuss and protest about the proposed building of a motorway nearby
• To lobby means making direct contact with MSPs or councillors to try to get them to take action on an issue, for example, meeting an MSP to express concern about a proposed school closure
• Public petitions (often online) enable the public to show support for an issue. The greater the number of people signing the petition, the more pressure can be placed on governments and local councils