Lesson 13 - MONITORING & INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT

SS.7.C.2.10

OverviewOverview In this lesson, students will learn about and evaluate ways in which the media, individuals,

and interest groups monitor and influence the government.

Essential Questions What methods do individuals, the media, and interest groups use to monitor the government?

What methods do they use to influence the government? 

NGSSS Benchmark SS.7.C.2.10 Examine the impact of media, individuals, and interest groups on monitoring and

influencing government.

Learning Goals/Benchmark Clarifications Students will identify the methods used by interest groups to monitor and/or influence the

government. Students will identify the methods used by the media to monitor and/or influence the

government. Students will evaluate the impact of media, individuals, and interest groups on the

government. Students will identify and evaluate methods of influencing and/or monitoring government.

Bell Ringer: Social Media VideoPublic Sphere - a place where society

discuses the issues that affect everyone

We are going to watch and analyze a video.The People’s Power: Social Media

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uppg_2nGo54

Bell Ringer: The Power We HoldDo people have the power to change the world?

How powerful are the people from Turkey?How powerful are the people from Vietnam?How powerful are the people from Africa?How powerful are the people from the United States?

We have the power to set the public agenda - a list of issues that much of society agrees are a priorityIn democracy (like America) we elect our representatives to create public policy - government actions in the form of laws

We Americans are particularly powerful! We can change the world!

The Role of MediaMedia - plural form of the word “medium,”

refers to various means of communication. For example, television, radio, newspapers and the Internet (web) are different types of media. The term is commonly used for the press or news reporting agencies.

Handout: The Role of Media

After reading, answer the question in your notes:

What are the 3 main roles of the media?

Television NewscastsWho do you think makes the decisions about

what stories television newscasts discuss?Let’s look at current news topics:CNN Student News:

http://www.cnn.com/studentnews/Time for Kids: http://www.timeforkids.com/ Scholastic:

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/scholasticnews/index.html

Are the issues you are viewing global, national, or local? Have you heard these issues being discussed in the public sphere?

Partner ActivityActivity: The Role of Media

Put this in your classwork sectionWith your partner you will determine

headlines based on the newspaper agenda.

Read the agenda from each newspaper, and then write the headlines that fit the agenda

Bell Ringer: Interest Groups1. What is this

picture trying to say?

2. How is this poster trying to influence people's decisions?

3. What kind of laws might this group influence the government to pass?

Group Read: Interest GroupsHandout: Interest Groups

Put this in your “Handouts” section

Interest Groups gather people and resources to support public policy that helps their members (and people who share their interest)

Interest groups also work to influence public opinion by educating the general public about their point of view

Examples of Interest Groups

Interest Groups and the MediaLet’s watch some advertisements from interest

groups:The Feminist Majority Foundation: https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9yl_wcLif4 The Humane Society: https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZN76BuM2TAGreenpeace USA: https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlkLvM72qQAThe Human Rights Campaign: https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdnxMFs8tTkDid these commercials teach you about the

interest group? Did they make you want to take action?Interest groups and the power of media

One of the Most Famous Interest Groups: The National Rifle Association (NRA)

2nd Amendment: “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

The NRA’s main purpose is to protect Americans’ right to own guns

A lot of Americans love the NRA. I lot of Americans do not.

Why do you think the NRA is so famous in America?

Who’s Interested in Matching?Match the Group to the Answer.

Individual ActivityMy Own Interest Group

Put this in your “Classwork” section

1. Think of something you are interested in and think others should be interested in.

2. Give your interest group a name (many groups have an acronym, like “N.R.A.”

3. Describe the purpose and goal(s) of your interest group

4. Draw a poster that will advertise your interest group (media)

Chart Interpretation

The charts show how much money two interest groups spend on lobbying – activities conducted to influence public officials

In which year did MADD spend the most money on congress?

Which interest group spends more money?

Citizen Influence on GovernmentWe have learned about how the media and interest

groups can monitor and influence the government. How can individuals monitor and influence

government?

In your notes, write down the following (leave 2-3 lines in between each:Attend Civic Meetings-Vote-Petition Government-Run for Office-Spread idea-

Attend Civic MeetingsAttending civic meetings, especially in your local

community, provides you with a face-to-face opportunity with your government leaders.

By attending a school board or city council meeting you can become informed on the important issues either group is dealing with.

You can also try to influence them by sharing your opinion on issues.

VOTEYou get to say what's important to you, and you say it

straight to the elected leaders. Individuals can play a role in monitoring and

influencing government by casting a vote and having a say in who should or should not be elected to office.

Elections are one of the few times when adults, 18 year olds and older, all have an equal say. Even if the person you vote for loses, your vote matters because it lets winners and losers know who supports their points of view.

Petition GovernmentThe right to petition is one of the freedoms listed in the

First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.Petitioning the government means any nonviolent, legal

means of encouraging or disapproving government action, directed to the judicial, executive or legislative branch.

Some ways Americans can petition the governmentYou can protest peacefully. You can march with signs and

speakers and tell the government what you think. You can write a petition. A petition is a formal, written

request made to an official person or organized body, usually the government, and usually with a list of signatures to show the government body how many citizens support the request.

Run for OfficeIn the United States, citizens can run for

local, state, or federal office. By running for office and getting elected you can become part of the government. In this position you can closely monitor and influence all of the government activities related to your role.

Spread IdeasIn this day and age, technology gives us the

ability to spread ideas like never beforeYou can make videos (maybe an

advertisement!)You influence others using social media. You

can influence the government with social media too!InstagramFacebookSnapchatWhat else do you guys use?!?!?!

Content VocabularyWord/Term Part of Speech Definition

impact verb to have a strong effect on something or someone

influence verb having an effect or impact on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others

interest group noun people who are concerned with some particular issue or part of the government and who try to influence legislators or to act in their favor, also known as a special interest group

lobbying verb to conduct activities in order to influence public officials

lobbyist noun a person who conducts activities in order to influence public officials

media noun plural form of the word “medium,” refers to various means of communication. For example, television, radio, newspapers and the Internet (web) are different types of media. The term can also be used as a collective noun for the press or news reporting agencies.

monitor verb to watch, keep track of, or check usually for a special purpose

petitioning the government

verb any nonviolent, legal means of encouraging or disapproving government action, directed to the judicial, executive or legislative branch

political action committee (PAC)

noun an independent political organization that seeks to promote the cause of a particular interest group, usually through raising money and campaigning to elect candidates who support the group's views

public agenda noun a list of issues that much of society agrees are a priority

public policy noun government actions in the form of laws

public sphere noun a place where society discuses the issues that affect everyone

watchdog noun a person or group who acts as a protector or guardian

Summative AssessmentWrite a one paragraph summary statement

for each column explaining the impact of the media, interest groups and individuals on the government. Be sure to include at least 2 specific examples for each.

(Total of 3 paragraphs will be counted as a quiz grade.)

Media Interest Groups

Individuals