Please see attached documents
Create an Interest Group Template
Student Name:
Date:
Your Interest Group
| In approximately 6-8 sentences, give your hypothetical interest group a name, and describe the issue or cause it supports or opposes and why. The Role of Interest Groups in Democracy tutorial can help you answer this prompt. |
| <Enter your response here> |
| What type of interest group is it? The Types of Interest Groups tutorial can help you answer this prompt. |
| <Enter your response here> |
Goals
| What are your specific policy goals? Specify at least 2. |
| <Enter your response here> |
| Which level(s) of government and which government branch(es) will you target, and why? |
| <Enter your response here> |
| Is there one political party that might be more receptive to your goals? Why or why not? |
| <Enter your response here> |
| What barriers exist to meeting your goals? Specify 2 or more. Examples might include the free rider problem, lack of popular support, lack of political support, financial barriers, or others. |
| <Enter your response here> |
| How might your group overcome each of those barriers? |
| <Enter your response here> |
Membership
| Who will you target for membership and how will you grow it? |
| <Enter your response here> |
| What sorts of incentives can your interest group provide? The Factors that Influence the Power of Interest Groups tutorial can help you answer this prompt. |
| <Enter your response here> |
Actions
| Choose two inside lobbying approaches and two outside lobbying approaches that your interest group will use. Explain how each will contribute to the goals. You can choose from the menu provided (below), or brainstorm your own ideas. The Interest Group Strategies tutorial can also help you answer this prompt. |
| <Enter your response here> |
| Inside Lobbying | Outside Lobbying |
| Hire a professional lobbyist | Hold protest demonstrations or rallies |
| Testify at congressional committee meetings or before the full legislature | Place stories or articles in the media |
| Provide research or information to congresspersons | Issue press releases |
| Meet with government officials | Enter a coalition with other groups |
| Submit draft legislation to legislators | Ask members to contact their representatives |
| File lawsuits or legal briefs (e.g., amicus curiae briefs) | Publish ratings of legislators, other elected officials, or political candidates |
| Try to influence agency or judicial appointments | Mold public opinion and spread awareness through social media |
| Donate to political campaigns | Spearhead get-out-the-vote campaigns |
REFERENCES
(Include as needed, for any sources cited. You may use an APA citation generator for your reference list. Format the list in alphabetical order by last name.)
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