Interest Group Project
You have three weeks to complete this assignment before you present it to the class. You will be doing research on a
contemporary interest group in the U.S. You will present a one-sheet written summary of your findings to me and you will
have a five-minute presentation to your classmates; each will be graded.
Step one: select an interest group. You may select preferences from this group or suggest other groups that interest
you; select at least three. Try to pick groups that intrigue you and with which you were not already very familiar/ I will
try to give you one of your preferences while ensuring that every member of the class is working on a different group.
1st -__________________________
Assigned: _______________________________
2nd- _________________________
3rd- _________________________
Step two: visit your assigned group’s website and consider the following questions as you develop your summary sheet:
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When was the group formed? What is its history?
What is the mission of the group? What goals and activities does this group pursue?
What have been some of the major activities during the past year or so, and what have been the notable successes
and/or failures.
How many members does it have? What is required to join the group?
How many people work for the group and how is it organized?
What is the group currently concerned with? How is the group funded?
Is there an indication of whether this group makes campaign contributions and, if so, to whom recent contributions
have gone? Does it hold fundraisers for political candidates? Does the group (through its PACs) contribute to
candidates?
How does the group go about getting the attention of Members of Congress or the State Legislator, or the
bureaucracy that oversees their concerns?
How much of its leadership is made up of former government employees?
 You are welcome to investigate any other aspects of interest group structure or behavior that strike fancy and
include your findings in the summary; creativity is always welcome!
Step three: write to the group and try to obtain some physical representation of the groups work .i.e. (It is not necessary
that you spend any money.) Bring this to class on the day of your presentation. If you can’t get anything sent from
them- create your own.
Step four: find (somewhere other than on the group’s website) two recent mentions of your group in the media.
Summarize what is said about your group on the sheet you are turning in. Create a proper reference page to cite your
sources in APA style.
Interest Groups
American association of retired persons (AARP): www.aarp.org
American Civil liberties union (ACLU): www.aclu.org
AFL-CIO (American Federation of labor/Congress of industrial Organizations): www.aflcio.org
American Bar Association (ABA): www.abanet.org
American Conservation Union: www.conservative.org
American Farm Bureau: www.fb.org
American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC): www.aipac.org
American Medical Association (AMA): www.ama-assn.org
American Petroleum Institute (API): www.api.org
American For Democratic Action (ADA): www.adaction.org
Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA): www.atla.org
The Business Roundtable: www.brtable.org
Center for Equal Opportunity: www.ceousa.org
Center for Science in the Public Interest: www.cspinet.org
Christian Coalition: www.cc.org
Club for growth: www.clubforgrowth.org
Council in American- Islamic Relations: www.cair-net.org
Eagle Forum: www.eagleforum.org
Emily’s list: www.emilyslist.org
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): www.enviromentaldefense.org
Focus on the Family: www.focusonthefamily.org
Green Peace: www.greenpeace.org
Handgun Control, Inc.: www.handguncontrol.org
Independent women’s Forum: www.ewf.org
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD): www.madd.org
NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People): www.naacp.org
NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League): www.naral.org
National Association of Manufacturers (NAM): www.nam.org
National Council of La Raza: www.nclr.org
National Organization for Women (NOW): www.now.org
National Resources Defense Council: www.nrdc.org
National Right to Life: www.nrlc.org
NEA (National Education Association): www.nea.org
NRA (National rifle Association): www.nea.org
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals): www.peta.org
Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America: www.phrma.org
Public Citizen: www.citizen.org
Sierra Club: www.sierraclub.org
U.S. Chamber of Commerce: www.uschamber.com
Veterans of Foreign wars: www.vfw.org
Scoring Category
Overview
Evaluation
Research
Analysis
Evidence
Content knowledge /
Vocabulary
Higher order
thinking
Mechanics
References
Presentation
Score Point 5
Score Point 3
Score Point 1
The summary and
presentation
provides a
thoroughly
developed
explanation of the
chosen group
The evaluation
clearly explains
the effect the
chosen group has on
American politics
The summary and
presentation
provides a partially
developed
explanation of the
chosen group
The summary and
presentation
provides a
minimally
developed
explanation of the
chosen group
The evaluation
minimally explains
the effect the
chosen group has on
American politics
There are references
to the chosen group
in 2 different
media outlets
The explanation is
clear and well
supported with
factual evidence.
There is clear
evidence of content
knowledge learned
through research
Content-appropriate
vocabulary is well
developed and
evident.
Shows clear
evidence of higher
level thinking skills.
Little/no issues with
spelling/grammar
A reference sheet in
APA style is
provided
Exemplary physical
representation of
the group is
provided along with
a professional
presentation
The evaluation
somewhat
explains the effect
the chosen group
has on American
politics
There are references
to the chosen group
in 1 media outlet
The explanation is
clear and
somewhat
supported with
factual evidence.
There is some
evidence of content
knowledge learned
through research
Some evidence of
content-appropriate
vocabulary usage.
Shows some
evidence of higher
level thinking skills.
Some issues with
spelling/grammar
References are
provided in an
incorrect format
Satisfactory physical
representation
provided and/or
presentation is
somewhat
professional
There no
references to the
chosen group in
media outlets
The explanation is
unclear or
minimally
supported with
factual evidence.
There is little
evidence of content
knowledge learned
through research.
Minimal evidence of
content-appropriate
vocabulary usage.
Shows little
evidence of higher
level thinking skills.
Severe issues with
spelling/grammar
No references
provided
Physical
representation of
the group is missing
and/or presentation
is unprofessional