Delegation Resource Manual: The Lobbyists Dimension
Page 94
YMCA PA Youth & Government Program
assist students in interpreting the information and can be answered individually or through
class discussion.
7)
Distribute copies of the articles offering opposing viewpoints on PACs and ask students to
answer the discussion questions provided in the Reading Guide. Discussion questions are
designed to challenge students to analyze the differences between the articles and evaluate
the merits of each perspective. Students may read and answer questions individually or in
small groups. Students may also be grouped in jigsaw fashion. Three small groups should
each read and study one article, and then groups are shuffled to have a few members of each
of the first three groups. Students should compare and contrast the strengths and
weaknesses of the major arguments of each article.
8)
The handouts Formal Response to Political Action Committee and Formal Response to Potential
Presidential Veto are used by students participating in the YLI e-Congress legislative
simulation. Student legislators will be contacted by PACs as they work to amend legislation
in the Appropriations Sub-committee. Students can use the information gathered from this
lesson to craft their responses to outside influences and to help them mold their legislative
strategies.
Extension:
1)
Students may visit the media center or computer lab and use the handout Top 7 PAC
Contributors during Election 2000 to learn more about some of the most influential PACs as
well as questions to help students analyze the political impact of these organizations.
2)
Access PAC information by selecting the following prompts from the YLI homepage.
a.
From the homepage select Speak Out! at the top right of the page.
b.
Next, choose Search Campaign Finance Information to find out which people
and organizations are donating money, how much candidates are receiving, and
which lobbies fund campaigns in your community or in any other locale around the
country.
