Starter

• How are John Locke and Thomas Jefferson tied together?

Keeping the public informed6.04

Staying informed

• The US public must be an informed citizenry- people 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 debate4. Franking privileges- officials send mail for

free5. 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 groups- promote 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 cause-

Christian 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. List the five kinds of private interest groups.2. Explain what a public interest group is.3. Compare thinks tanks to political parties.4. Create an ideological interest group. Explain

its purpose and how you would use it too affect the government.