Interest Group Assignment
Due –Wednesday, January 7, 2016
THIS IS NOT A GROUP PROJECT!! ALL WORK SHOULD BE COMPLETED
INDEPENDENTLY!
1. Read Chapter 11 in its entirety. Take notes and become familiar with more than just these
three groups.
2. For each of the following interest groups listed below, answer each of the following
questions in complete sentences: NRA, NAM & NOW.
3. Go to the groups’ websites. You can access each group’s website from my Symbaloo
board on my website. Research the following topics and type up the answers (no more
than 2 pages TOTAL) covering these topics for each group. You can simply put the
group as a heading and then give the information on that group. (This isn’t meant to be a
thesis-driven, unified essay, but more like a structured FRQ.) Regardless of format you
choose to use, you should label your paper as the assignment is labeled.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
For what does the group’s acronym stand?
Read pp. 270-274. When was the interest group formed & why?
Read pp. 274-276. Is the group an institutional or membership interest?
Read pp. 276-279. What benefits or incentives do members receive?
Read pp. 280-283.With what types of issues specifically are they concerned?
Is the group’s political ideology liberal, conservative, OR moderate?
Read pp. 283-280. What are at least 2 examples of legislation the group currently
supports or opposes? Are these examples local, state or federal laws?
Re-Read pp. 280-286. Explain least 2 actions the group takes to try to influence
policy and the public agenda? Give specific examples: (e.g. use of the media,
lawsuits, staged protests, direct lobbying, public information contributions, etc.)
Which parts of the government does the group target to lobby, i.e. which executive
branch departments and congressional committees?
How successful is the group in pushing their agenda? Give a relevant, recent
example.
What resources make the group influential? Be specific.
4. This assignment is a project grade worth 50 points. The following rubric will be used to
assess the project: 48 points content (16 points per group) and 2 points for format.
Interest Group Assignment Rubric
All Questions Typed____________/1
Information:
Groups Correctly Labeled ____________/1
H. Action Example 1 _____________/1
Action Example 2 _____________/1
A. Acronym ____________________/1
B. Date & why __________________/1
I.
Lobbying ____________________/1
C. Type of Group ________________/1
J.
Success & Example ____________/2
D. Incentives____________________/1
K. Influential Resources ___________/1
E. Issues _______________________/1
F. Ideology _____________________/1
Information:
A. Acronym ____________________/1
G. Legislation 1 _________________/2
B. Date & why __________________/1
Legislation 2 _________________/2
C. Type of Group ________________/1
H. Action Example 1 _____________/1
D. Incentives____________________/1
Action Example 2 _____________/1
E. Issues _______________________/1
I.
Lobbying ____________________/1
F. Ideology _____________________/1
J.
Success & Example ____________/2
G. Legislation 1 _________________/2
K. Influential Resources ___________/1
Legislation 2 _________________/2
H. Action Example 1 _____________/1
Information:
Action Example 2 _____________/1
A. Acronym ____________________/1
I.
Lobbying ____________________/1
B. Date & why __________________/1
J.
Success & Example ____________/2
C. Type of Group ________________/1
K. Influential Resources ___________/1
D. Incentives____________________/1
E. Issues _______________________/1
F. Ideology _____________________/1
G. Legislation 1 _________________/2
Legislation 2 _________________/2