Essay 5 & 6

Essay 5:

Different interest groups will choose different techniques to achieve their objectives based on their resources, characteristics, and goals.

a) describe each of the following techniques and explain why an interest group would choose each technique.

Litigation: Litigation is an action brought in court to enforce a particular right; the act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. An interest group would use litigation in order to put pressure on officials. 

Campaign contributions: Campaign Contributions are all the funds raised in order to promote candidates, political parties, or policies in elections, referendums, initiatives, party activities, and party organizations. Interest groups would use campaign contributions if they had an issue that they wanted to draw attention to. By contributing to a candidates campaign, their issue might be brought up by this certain candidate. 

Grassroots Lobbying / mass mobilization: Grassroots Lobbying is lobbying with the intention of reaching the legislature and making a difference in the decision-making process. An interest group would use this because it is an effective way of spreading awareness of their goals and the changes they are planning on making. Mass mobilization is usually part of a revolutionary movement and practiced to overthrow an incumbent politician.  

b) Select one of the following groups and identify the primary technique it uses from the list in part (a). Explain why the group you selected would employ that technique over the other two techniques.

National Rifle Association (NRA): The NRA's main technique of lobbying is grassroots lobbying. They use this technique because they are trying to make an impact on the decision making process. They are spreading the awareness through media such as ads, magazines and websites. They are really trying to get noticed. This interest group wouldn't use litigation because they wouldn't get very far with this technique. They also wouldn't use campaign contributions as much because they are a non-profit organization and do not have money to contribute to candidates.  


Essay 6:

2009-2

In the United States political system, there are several linkage institutions that can connect citizens to government Elections constitute one such institution. Because of low voter turnout, however, other linkage institutions can connect citizens to government.

a. Describe how each of the following is related to the likelihood of voting.

-Age: The older an individual, the more likely they are to vote. 

-Education: The more/better educated an individual, the more likely they are to vote. 

b. Identify one current government electoral requirement that decreases voter turnout. Explain how it decreases voter turnout.

Convenience: People don't have time to register and vote. They also don't feel that their time is worth it because they think their vote doesn't matter. 

c. Identify one linkage institution other than elections and explain two ways it connects citizens to government.

Special Interest Groups:
1. Allows people to have a say without voting
2. Supports a cause

Protesting:
1. Another way to give your opinion on an issue without voting on it
2. Fighting for what you believe is right.