Interest Groups Project

Weekend Research Assignment:

INTEREST GROUPS

Research an interest group that tries to impact public policy on your assigned issue. You may not do the same interest group as another student so sign up in the comments section below, first come, first served.  Next, be prepared on Monday, Nov 28 to present a power point, glog, or poster in class detailing what you have discovered about the interest group you have selected.  The following issues must be addressed.

·        What issue or issues does the interest group support or oppose?

·        How does the interest group impact public policy?  Is there a PAC attached to the group?

·        Name and discuss at least one current/recent bill or proposal that the interest group supports/opposes.

·        What is the demographic makeup of the membership? 

·        Explain the history of the specific interest group, i.e. what was the impetus for it forming?

·        How is the interest group financed? Annual dues, donations, fundraising efforts (be specific)

·        How does it spend money on lobbying efforts?  How did you find this out?

·        Is the interest group aligned with one political party more than another?  Why?

·        Is the interest group aligned more with a liberal or conservative ideology?  Why?

·        Do they endorse candidates?  If so, what major political officials are supported by the interest group? 

·        Does the interest group generally donate to candidates of the Democratic or Republican parties?  How do you know this?

·        How does the interest group inform its members about current legislation?

·        Is the interest group successful?  Explain why or why not.

·        What is a rival interest group of the one you have selected?

·        Which is more successful and why?

Each of the following fifteen (15) bullets is valued at five (5) points equaling sixty (60) points.  In addition, twenty (20) points will be given for breadth and depth of research findings and another twenty (20) will be given for your ability to answer questions from teacher and fellow classmates.