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Interest Groups
Select a hot topic, such as gun control, climate change, reproductive rights, or animal rights, and go online to find TWO organizations representing different sides of the debate (for example, the National Rifle Association at www.nra.org and the Brady Campaign at www.BradyCampaign.org). Examine their websites. Then, please respond to the following questions. When completed with Course Assignment 3, please submit to the Course Assignment 3 and Self-Assessment 3 submission folder.
Summarize the information that you found at each organization’s website (i.e. founding, purpose, agenda, etc.).
What do the two sides have to say about the issues?
What do the two sides have to say about one another?
What do the two groups say about elections? Do they mention elections, voting, or campaign contributions? If so, in what capacity does each group mention these things?
Do either of the two groups link themselves to a political party? Do they mention that linkage on their website?
Elections and Money
Go visit Open Secrets. Look up how much money was spent on elections in your state in the last election and who the big contributors were. Then, respond to the following questions.
Which groups or industries provide the most money to your lawmakers?
Are you surprised by this information? Why or why not?
Can you think of an instance where the money from groups or industries helped to influence the laws made in your area? Please provide an example.
Are either of the interest groups that you examined above in the “contributors” list for your legislative district? If so, do you see a reason as to why the group(s) would make that contribution?
Being a Critical Consumer of Political News
Always check the facts. Candidates and political groups use the Internet and social media to deliver their messages directly to the public, unfiltered by editors. One downside to this process is that lies and misinformation are more common online. Visit the popular Factcheck website and its Viral Claims page. Then, please respond to the following questions.
What are the current Internet rumors?
Who are the subjects of these rumors?
Do you see a pattern? What is the pattern?
What is the danger that these sorts of rumors pose to an informed citizenry and a healthy democracy when the facts are left unchecked?
What sort of influence, if any, do you see that interest groups might have on these sorts of rumors? Please explain.
What sort of influence, if any, do you see that political parties might have on these sorts of rumors?
American Political Parties
Most people in the United States are aware of the two major political parties. Many do not know of the dozens of smaller parties that operate on a national scale. Visit the Directory of Political Parties. Read the platforms of each of the two major parties and at least TWO minor parties. Then, please respond to the following questions.
Which minor party platforms did you read?
Did you find any similarities between the two major party platforms and the minor party platforms that you read? If so, what were those similarities?
Did you find any differences between the two major party platforms and the minor party platforms that you read? If so, what were those differences?
Does any of the information about these parties surprise you? If so, in what way? If not, why not?
Did you see any evidence of these political parties linking themselves to specific interest groups? If so, what type of interest groups did they link themselves to?
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