The Internet and Politics

Course

Political Science I

Unit V

Public Opinion and Interest

Groups

Essential

Question

How has the invention of the

Internet affected

US politics?

TEKS

§130.183(c)

(6)(A)(B)

Prior Student

Learning

Media and

Politics

Estimated Time

2 to 5 hours

The Internet and Politics

Rationale

The accessibility and affordability of the Internet have had a dramatic impact on US politics. It is a medium that allows people, businesses, and government to communicate with one another in a way that is unprecedented. Understanding its impact is essential for contemporary civic engagement and political careers.

Objectives

The students will be able to:

1. Analyze how government control of mass media affects the democratic process

2. Conduct research for political information using the Internet

Engage

Watch the videos on the website below and use the questions for discussion.

 http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/daily_videos/turkish-teen-talksabout-circumventing-his-countrys-twitter-block/



What does the Turkish government want to accomplish by blocking its people’s access to social media?



Was the block successful?



How does control of mass media affect the democratic process?

Use the Discussion Rubric for assessment.

Key Points

I. What are the key features of the Internet?

A. Widespread Audience

1. 75.6% of American households have a computer (US Census

Bureau, 2011)

2. 71.7% of American households use the Internet at home (US

Census Bureau, 2011)

B. Interactivity

1. Traditional media are unidirectional, unlike the Internet, which supports interactive communication

2. The interactivity allows for quick and easy assimilation and organization of groups of people with similar interests

C. Global Scope

1. The Internet is viewed and utilized worldwide

2. Its global nature ensures a wide range of diverse information and opinions

3. Its lack of ownership presents legal challenges regarding which national law it should follow

II. What are the ways that the Internet is useful for politics?

A. Political Websites

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Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.

1. There are thousands of political websites on the Internet a) Governmental

(2) Congress

(4) Universities b) Non-governmental

(2) Newsmagazines

(3) Television and radio networks c) Partisan – offer information only from their political parties’ perspectives d) Non-partisan – offer information from more than one perspective

2. It is the user’s responsibility to evaluate critically the website in order to determine its reliability, accuracy, and currency

3. Reputable websites state the a) Name of the owner and manager b) Date of the most recent revision

B. Tracking Legislation

1. Congress.gov ( http://beta.congress.gov/ ) a) Allows users to search for House and Senate bills b) Lists contact information for members of Congress

2. The Library of Congress ( http://www.gpo.gov/ ) a) Provides a summary of the current congressional session’s daily activities b) Is a database for reports filed by congressional committees c) Is co-hosted by the Government Printing Office

C. Electronic Mailing Lists

1. Are automated email notifications that provide subscribers with current information about the topic of interest, such as civil liberties or gun control

2. May be found by a) Conducting an Internet search of the following key terms

(2) Political discussion groups b) Visiting the websites of the national offices of the major political parties

D. E-Government

1. Is provided by all levels of government

2. Includes government-operated websites that provide information and services such as a) Pay parking tickets b) Get forms for marriage licenses

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c) Register to vote

3. Two examples are a) Office of E-Government and Information Technology

( http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/e-gov )

(1) Was established by the 2002 E-Government Act

(2) Helps federal agencies coordinate and improve online service for the public b) The federal government’s official website ( www.usa.gov

)

(1) Provides access to a wide variety of governmental information

(2) Provides links to information about all 50 states

(3) Provides convenient ways to contact local, state, and federal representatives

III. What is the Internet’s impact on the political participation of US citizens?

A. Communicating with officials

1. Email is the most widely used Internet tool to communicate with officials

2. Congress receives more than one million emails a day (Remy,

2010)

B. Action Alerts and Petitions

1. Action alert – a message from an interest group to its members that calls for a specific and immediate response (e.g. contact your congressman)

2. Electronic petition – a mass message that asks for electronic signatures on a request to an official

C. Grassroots Websites

1. Are created by individuals supporting their political candidates or beliefs

2. Can cause problems for political parties by creating a) Misinformation b) Unwanted associations with extremists c) Confusion about whether the website is official

D. Volunteering Opportunities

1. Are listed on political websites

2. Are available face-to-face or online

E. Political Blogs

1. Are online personal journals that people and groups can use to participate politically

2. Are widely used

3. May be owned and read by anyone

4. Remain largely a tool of the elites with journalistic credentials

F. Electronic Voting

1. The 2002 Help America Vote Act a) Required states to replace old voting methods (e.g. punch cards)

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b) Inspired some states and the Department of Defense to experiment with e-voting

2. Supporters focus on the ease and efficiency

3. Opponents focus on the potential for sabotage, vote stealing, and a lack of hard evidence

IV. What are the legal challenges of the Internet?

A. Offensive Content

1. The lack of government regulation allows anyone to post their ideas and opinions, creative or obscene

2. Some important legislation includes a) Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union (1997) – the Supreme

Court ruled that the First Amendment guarantees freedom of expression on the Internet b) Children’s Internet Protection Act (2000) – requires public libraries that receive federal funds to install anti-pornography filters c) United States v. American Library Association (2003) – the

Supreme Court ruled that the law’s filter requirement does not violate library users’ First Amendment rights

B. Taxing E-Commerce

1. E-commerce has increased with the frequency of Internet use

2. States want to tax online sales but cannot because of cumbersome state tax laws

3. A group of states supports a plan to use a single tax rate for all online sales, but technology companies, online retailers, and

Congress are resistant

Activities

Internet Activism – Have the students conduct research about the various ways that the Internet assists citizen activists and write a summary of their findings. Use the Summary Rubric for assessment. ( Note: This activity may be extended by having students join or start activist organizations that align with their beliefs.)

Assessments

The Internet and Politics Quiz and Key

Discussion Rubric

Individual Work Rubric

Summary Rubric

Materials

The Internet and Politics computer-based presentation

Computer with Internet access and projector

Computers with Internet access

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Resources

McClenaghan, W. A. (2009). Magruder's American Government, Pearson.

Remy, Ph.D., R. C. (2010), United States Government: Democracy in Action,

Glencoe McGraw-Hill.

Wilson, J. Q., Dilulio Jr., J. J., and Bose, M. (2011). American Government

Institutions and Policies , Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

US Census Bureau http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p20-569.pdf

Office of E-Government and Information Technology http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/e-gov http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/daily_videos/turkish-teen-talks-aboutcircumventing-his-countrys-twitter-block/

Accommodations for Learning Differences

For reinforcement, the students will conduct research using the Internet and find the contact information (including website) of their representative in the

House ( http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ ) and the Senate

( http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

). Use the Individual Work Rubric.

For enrichment, the students will visit and analyze the official websites sponsored by the Democratic and Republican parties. The students should write a brief summary of the platforms of each as the issues are discussed on the website. Use the Summary Rubric for assessment.

State Education Standards

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education

§130.183. Political Science I (One to Two Credits).

(6) The student analyzes public opinion. The student is expected to:

(A) investigate sources and influences of public opinion;

(B) analyze the effect of public opinion on leadership;

College and Career Readiness Standards

Cross-Disciplinary Standards

II. Foundational Skills

E. Technology

1. Use technology to gather information.

2. Use technology to organize, manage, and analyze information.


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The Internet and Politics Quiz

1. _____Which of the following are the key features of the Internet?

A. Widespread Audience

B. Interactivity

C. Global Scope

D. All of the above

2. _____There are thousands of political websites on the Internet, but none of them are non-partisan.

A. True

B. False

3. _____It is the user’s responsibility to evaluate critically the website in order to determine its reliability, accuracy, and currency.

A. True

B. False

4. _____Congressional sessions happen behind closed doors and gaining information about them is difficult.

A. True

B. False

5. _____Which of the following describes e-government?

A. Is provided by all levels of government

B. Includes government-operated websites that provide information and services

C. Both A and B

D. Neither A nor B

6. _____Which of the following is the federal government’s official website?

A. www.usa.gov

B. www.whitehouse.gov

C. www.america.gov

D. www.uspresident.gov

7. _____The federal government’s official website provides which of the following?

A. Access to a wide variety of governmental information

B. Links to information about all 50 states

C. Convenient ways to contact local, state, and federal representatives

D. All of the above

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8. _____Which of the following describes a political blog?

A. A message from an interest group to its members that calls for a specific and immediate response (e.g. Contact your congressman)

B. A mass message that asks for electronic signatures on a request to an official

C. Are online personal journals that people and groups can use to participate politically

D. None of the above

9. _____Which of the following describes an action alert?





10. _____Which of the following describes an electronic petition?






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1. D

2. B

3. A

4. B

5. C

6. A

7. D

8. C

9. A

10. B

The Internet and Politics Quiz Key


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Name_______________________________________ Date_______________________________

Objectives

Participates in group discussion

4 pts.

Excellent

Discussion Rubric

3 pts.

Good

2 pts. Needs Some

Improvement

1 pt. Needs Much

Improvement

N/A Pts.

Encourages others to join the conversation

Keeps the discussion progressing to achieve goals

Shares thoughts actively while offering helpful recommendations to others

Gives credit to others for their ideas

Respects the opinions of others

Involves others by asking questions or requesting input

Expresses thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively

Total Points (32 pts.)

Comments:

9


Objectives

Follows directions

Student completed the work as directed, following the directions given, in order and to the level of quality indicated

Time management

Student used time wisely and remained on task

100% of the time

Organization

Student kept notes and materials in a neat, legible, and organized manner. Information was readily retrieved

Evidence of learning

Student documented information in his or her own words and can accurately answer questions related to the information retrieved

*Research/Gathering information (if relevant)

Student used a variety of methods and sources to gather information. Student took notes while gathering information


Individual Work Rubric

4 pts.

Excellent

3 pts.

Good


Improvement


Improvement N/A Pts.

Comments:

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Name_______________________________________ Date_______________________________

Objectives

4 pts.

Excellent

Summary Rubric

3 pts.

Good


Improvement


Improvement

N/A Pts.

The critical analysis has all required parts from introduction to body to conclusion.

The critical analysis is concise but complete.

The critical analysis demonstrates that the writer comprehends the content.

The critical analysis demonstrates accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

The overall content of the critical analysis emphasizes appropriate points.

The writer shows an understanding of sentence structure, paragraphing, and punctuation.

The source of the critical analysis is clearly and accurately documented.

The critical analysis demonstrates the correct use of terminology.


Comments:

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The Internet and Politics

The Internet and Politics

The Internet and Politics Quiz