WEEK THIRTEEN

Unit Questions:
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What role do political parties play in electing candidates to office?

How does public opinion affect public policy?
What are interest groups and what role do they play in shaping public policy?

C3.5.1 Explain how political parties, interest groups, the media, and
individuals can influence and determine the public agenda.
C3.5.3 Identify and explain the roles of various associations and groups in
American politics.
C3.5.4 Explain the concept of public opinion, factors that shape it, and
contrasting views on the role it should play in public policy.
C6.1.1 Identify and research various viewpoints on significant public policy
issues.

Objectives:

Instructions: Welcome to Week 13 of the online U.S. Government course! Please complete the
following activities for this week. Make sure that you complete each activity by the time it is
due. Due dates are located at the end of each activity listed below.
(1) Complete Week 13 Pre-Test. Read Chapter 11 Sections 1 & 2 (pages 304 312).
Create a new document with your Google Drive account and title it Your Name
Week 13 Activities. On this new document you will type out each of the Key Terms
and Concepts for Sections 1 & 2, as well as their definitions. Make sure to label this
section Ch. 11 Vocabulary Terms: Secs 1 & 2. Visit Real Clear Politics website to
view current polling data. Continue to work on your Political Ideology Project.
Complete this activity by 11:59pm Monday of Week 13.
(2) Read Chapter 11 Section 3 (pages 313 316). In your "Week 13 Activities
document, type out each of the Key Terms and Concepts for Section 3, as well as their
definitions. Make sure to label this section Ch. 11: Vocabulary Terms: Sec 3.
Continue to work on your Political Ideology project. Complete this activity by
11:59pm Tuesday of Week 13.
(3) Read Chapter 10 Sections 1 & 2 (pages 284 293). In your "Week 13 Activities
document, type out each of the Key Terms and Concepts for Sections 1 & 2, as well
as their definitions. Make sure to label this section Ch. 10: Vocabulary Terms: Sec.s
1 & 2. Watch the video on Congressional Decisions. Continue to work on your
Political Ideology Project. Complete this activity by 11:59pm Wednesday of Week
13.
(4) Read Chapter 10 Section 3 (pages 295 298). In your "Week 11 Activities
document, type out each of the Key Terms and Concepts for Section 3, as well as their
definitions. Make sure to label this section Ch. 10: Vocabulary Terms: Sec 3. Watch
the video on Jack Abramoff. Complete your Political Ideology Project. Complete this
activity by 11:59pm Thursday of Week 13.

(5) Create a new blog post and embed your Political Ideology Project. Visit the
Discussion Blog and answer the questions for Week 13. Review your Week 13
Google Drive document. Complete the Week 13 Post-Test. Complete this activity by
11:59pm Friday of Week 13.
Resources:
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Chapters to read in Textbook: Ch. 10 Sec.s 1 through 3 (pgs. 284 298) and
Ch. 11 Sec.s 1 3 (pgs. 304 316).
Latest Polling Real Clear Politics.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/
Congressional Decisions: Crash Course Government and Politics #10
CrashCourse. https://youtu.be/ZT9ipQdYL-s
The lobbyists playbook: Jack Abramoff How he asserted his influence in
Congress for years NeedToAwaken. https://youtu.be/M0E53Ikdfy8?
list=PL62209E49D8A0562A

Discussion Questions:
1. Do you agree with the statement, Whoever can raise the most money will win the
election? Why or why not?

2. Is polling an accurate measure of how the public feels on a certain candidate or issue?
Why or why not? Is there any bias in polling?

3. Do you feel that interest groups or lobbyists play too big of a role in American politics?
Why or why not? Do you feel Jack Abramoff was wrong for what he has admitted doing
as a lobbyist?