Discussion:
E-Activity
• Review how lobbying influences policy at https://lobbyingdisclosure.house.gov/. Be prepared to discuss.
• Visit The White House Briefing Room to read the "FACT SHEET: The President's Framework for Shared Prosperity and Shared Fiscal Responsibility" dated April 13, 2011 at
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/04/13/fact-sheet-presidents-framework-shared-prosperity-and-shared-fiscal-resp. Be prepared to discuss.
• Each response must contain 250 words or more and sources can not be more than five years old.
Discussion 1
Agenda Setting" Please respond to the following:
• From the Fact Sheet reviewed during the e-Activity, identify an official actor, an unofficial actor, and an interest group; then, analyze how power will affect agenda setting for a particular policy of your choice. Discuss how much power each needs to set the agenda and give an example to support your response.
• Explain what role the media might play in overcoming the "second face of power." Why does Birkland compare the third face to Marxist "False Consciousness"?
Discussion 2
"Lobbying" Please respond to the following:
• Using the e-Activity, students will respond to the following. Interest groups attempt to lobby their community, state, and federal policy makers in hopes of advocating their position. Using economic interest groups, speculate how successful the special interest is based on the amount of money invested in lobbying and how much money per year that interest group spends lobbying (either federal, state, or both) for its cause or position.
• Discuss your position of lobbying for your interest group to implement or change a particular policy.