Informed and Active
Citizenry
Some Tactics and Strategies
Used and Considered by Citizens
Within Societies
Michael Quinones, NBCT
www.socialstudiesguy.com
APK: Activation of Prior Knowledge
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Write at least 2-3 sentences describing a time when…
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What would you be willing to do to legally stop this from
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happening?
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Question of the Day
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What are the characteristics of an active citizen?
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[what does he do or act like]
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Term
Bias
Voting
Protest
Petition
Survey
Lobbying
Notes/Definitions
Why/how I think the
term is important
Bias

Most people have personal opinions or
points of view.

Our points of view are usually based on
our past experiences and how we were
raised.

A Bias is a belief or set of beliefs shaped
by those personal opinions, points of
view or past experiences.

For example, someone might believe
“black is beautiful” another person
might think “white is beautiful” this is
an extreme example.
Vote

In the United States
voting is a powerful
tool.

Registered voters can
vote people out of
office if they disagree
with the job they did

The power to make
decisions through
selection leaders.
Protest

Citizens gather in large
groups and publicly
complain about
something they believe
is wrong.

Protest can be written,
spoken or acted out

Most times you need a
police permit if it’s in a
public place.
Typical street protest or banner rally
Petition

Statement of position or
complaint and have
people “sign on.”

Leaders are more likely
to listen to large groups
than small groups.

Why do you think that is?

If many, many citizens
show displeasure they
might decide to vote as a
group.
Survey

Designed to find out about
public opinion.

Questions can be asked
and information is used to
inform leaders about what
people think and feel.

Sets of specific
questions are called
surveys.

Information obtained in
surveys can be used to
improve or manipulate
people.
Lobbying

People can influence lawmakers.

Tell them about issues.

Even pay them to vote in a
certain way.

People called who do these
types of things are called
lobbyists.

Groups who want to get certain
laws passed hire lobbyists to
convince legislators to pass laws
that will favor them.

For example, a tobacco
company pays a lobbyist to
convince Congress to lower
excise taxes on cigarettes.
Infamous and once highly
influential lobbyist Jack Abramoff
Group Activity
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Students form into groups of no more than 4 students and
select one [1] of the activities involving active citizens.
Bias
Voting
Protest
Petition
Survey
Lobbying
Create a scenario/skit demonstrating how these tactics
can be used by an active citizen to get something done.
Make sure your skit is understandable by announcing who
each person is before your activity begins. The skit will be
shared verbally with the entire class.
Sources
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http://www.dailybusinessreview.com/images/Voti
ngMachines.jpg
http://lmno4p.org/images/articles/protest.jpg
http://www.saveourtreehouse.com/SaveOurTree
house/neighborhood/petition_page_4.gif
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/t
humb/5/55/170px-Lynching-1889.jpg
http://www.profitablemarketing.co.uk/Images/inte
rnet_marketing/Web%20design%20%20questionnaire.gif
http://www.blackgirlmagazine.com/sitebuildercon
tent/sitebuilderpictures/Black-girl.jpg