Delegation Resource Manual: The Lobbyists Dimension
Page 93
YMCA PA Youth & Government Program
Activity (Lobbying): Influences on the Legislative Process
University of Virginia Center for Politics
Purpose: Students will understand the role that outside influences such as political action
committees (PACs), presidential vetoes, and the media play in the legislative process. They will be
challenged to respond to unpredictable outside influences and explain how recommendations from
these sources will impact their legislative decisions. This lesson may be used on its own or as a part
of YLI’s e-Congress.
Objectives:
3)
Students will be able to interpret a chart showing the growth of political action committees.
4)
Students will be able to identify the major arguments in the debate over the influence of
political action committees on the American political system.
5)
Students will be able to predict the ways in which legislators respond to attempts by interest
groups to influence the legislative process.
Key Words:
political action committee
presidential veto
constituent
Materials Provided:
3)
Reading: What is a Political Action Committee?
4)
Chart: Growth in PAC Numbers and Congressional Contributions 1972-2000
5)
Articles:
a)
PACs, Parties, and Presidents by Larry Sabato
b)
The Case for PACs by Herbert Alexander
c)
The Choice is Clear: It’s People vs. the PACs by Archibald Cox and Fred Wertheimer
6)
Handouts:
c)
Political Action Committees - Top 7 Campaign Contributors, Jan. 1, 1999 – June 30, 2000
d)
Reading Guide
e)
Formal Response to Political Action Committee
f)
Formal Response to Potential Presidential Veto
Procedure:
4)
Write the word committee on the board. Ask students to define committee. Who forms
committees? Why? Add the words political action before the word committee. Record
student answers to the following: What might the goals be of a political action committee?
What types of groups might form political action committees? What steps might a political
action committee take to meet its goals?
5)
Distribute copies of the article, “What is a Political Action Committee?” This selection provides
background information on the meaning of the term PAC and a description of the evolution
of PACs since 1972.
6)
After reading about the formation of PACs, distribute the chart demonstrating the growth
of political action committees over the past thirty years. Questions accompany the graph to
