Starter
• How are John Locke and Thomas Jefferson tied
together?
Keeping the public informed
6.04
Staying informed
• The US public must be
an informed citizenrypeople must be aware
of the laws
• Ignorance of the law is
no excuse
– just because you did
know the law does not
mean you cannot be
punished for breaking it
How can citizens stay informed?
• Town meetings- citizens gather and help draft
new laws.
• Public hearings- council meetings that citizens
can attend
• Public forums- citizens can express their
opinions about laws or issues
• Media- people can watch the news, listen to
the radio, go online, or read papers
How does the government help citizens
stay informed?
1. Press releases- statement released to the
media by the government
2. Government publications and websites
–
“click it or ticket”, “move over” highway laws
3. Political debate
4. Franking privileges- officials send mail for
free
5. Special task forces- temporary groups that
study certain areas
–
Ensures information is correct
Today’s Assignment on maintaining an Informed
Citizenry
1. Tell why is it important for citizens to stay informed
about the law.
2. Identify how the government keeps citizens
informed.
3. Choose the best way for citizens to stay informed
themselves. Explain your answer.
4. Develop a press release on the 19th Amendment as
if you were a senator from NC.
Starter
• Explain the ideas of the Virginia Plan, the New
Jersey Plan, and the Great Compromise.
6.06 Lobbyists, interest groups,
and think tanks
• Interest groupspromote a particular
cause or position
• Lobbyists- work for
interest groups to
influence legislation
• Do you think they have
too much power in
government?
Different interests
• Economic interests- involve money
• Private interest groups:
– Business interests
– Chamber of Commerce: supports private businesses
– Labor unions, agricultural groups, professional groups
• Non-economic interests- money is not the most
important factor
– Ideological beliefs- promote a principle or moral causeChristian group
– Public interest groups: seen as important to the public
(environment or civil rights)
– Single interest groups: specific groups (such as veterans
groups or retired people)
Think Tanks
• Organizations established to research and
study important issues (poverty, terrorism)
• Some see them as biased towards forwarding
their own ideas
• Can be conservative, liberal, moderate, or
non-partisan.
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
• Reduced the amount of money one could give
to federal political campaigns.
– This hurt interest groups.
Today’s Assignment on interest groups and lobbyists
1.
2.
3.
4.
List the five kinds of private interest groups.
Explain what a public interest group is.
Compare thinks tanks to political parties.
Create an ideological interest group. Explain
its purpose and how you would use it too
affect the government.