AP US Government and Politics
Interest Groups
Mrs. Rokosny
Interest Group Assignment
Due ____________________
1. Select one interest group. Try to pick a group that intrigues you with which you
are not already very familiar.
2. Go to that interest group’s web site. Also, go to news sites, such as News Google
and search for information on your group. That will help you find what issues
they have been involved in recently.
3. Research the following topics and type up a report (about three pages, doublespaced) covering those topics. You can simply put the topic as a heading and give
the information on that topic. You can give some (not all!) information in a
bullet-points list.
A. When was the group formed? Was there a particular event that triggered
its formation? What is required to join the group? What benefits are
identified that go along with group membership?
B. What are the issues that your group is considered with? What are some
examples of legislation your group supports or opposes? What actions
does your group take to try to influence policy and the public agenda?
What resources make it influential? Give specific examples (use of the
media, lawsuits, direct lobbying, public information, contributions, etc.)
Which parts of the government does your group target (which executive
branch departments and congressional committees)?
C. What is the group’s political ideology? Does it favor one political party
over the other? If so, does it have a history of supporting certain political
candidates? What is it doing to support their favored candidates? Make
the connection between their political ideology, the legislation they
support, and the party they support.
D. Find (other than on the group’s web site) two recent mentions (news
stories, etc.) of your group in the media. Summarize what it said about
your group.
E. Assess your group. What are its strengths and weaknesses? How
affective is it in achieving its agenda? Support what you say with specific
examples demonstrating their effectiveness or lack thereof.
A. Background Information
B. How group tries to
influence policy and the
public agenda
C. Political Efforts
D. Mentions in the Media
E. Assessment of your
group’s strengths and
weaknesses with examples
supporting your conclusions
TOTAL
Possible
Points
10
25
25
10
30
100
Your
Points