1. BelLRinGer
Objective: Analyze the multiple parties that influence elections.
Homework:
Answer: What do you see in the cartoon below? What do you think it means? .

2. Activity 1 Activity 2: Simulation
Read document titled Interest groups and answer questions below.
Activity 2: Simulation
Complete Chart : The Potato Problem

3. Step 2 How many members? How much money? Students Potato Farmers
Schools
Nutritionist # $

4. Step 3 What candidate do you want to support? Candidate Students
Potato Famers
Schools
Nutritionist

5. Laws- Schools must limit their servings of potato's to once a week.
Step 5
Laws- Schools must limit their servings of potato's to once a week.
What group supported the candidate?
Would the group be for or against this law?
Will the candidate support this law?

6. THE PEOPLE Canvassing: Opinion polls: Initiative: Referendum:
Supporters knock on doors to talk to people about a candidate and hear opinions
Opinion polls:
Ask who people will vote for, show what issues are important
Initiative:
When citizens propose a law (state only!)
Referendum:
When citizens vote on an existing law (state only)
Recall election:
When citizens vote to remove a public official from office (state only!)

7. POLITICAL GROUPS Special interest groups:
A group of people with a common interest who try to influence government decisions (ex. National Rifle Association, religious and environmental groups)
Lobbying:
When representatives contact lawmakers directly to try to influence the laws
Political Action Committees:
Political organizations that support candidates by giving money to their campaign

8. THE MEDIA
Mass media:
Forms of communication like TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, movies, and books
Influence elections by:
Covering candidates
Watching out for corruption

9. ON your notes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byA8yJHZiwE
Write three points Fox news makes about Obama Care
Make three points MSNBC makes about Obama Care
What differences did you see?
How can the media influence policy?

10. Exit Ticket
Which group do you believe has the largest impact on our political process? Interest Groups? Lobbyist? Pacts? Or the Media?