Civics 6.4-6.6

Civics 6.4-6.6

Informed Citizens

Open Ended

How do you stay informed about what is going on in the state, country, world?

Maintaining an Informed Citizenry

• informed citizenry - people must be aware of laws that govern society

• both citizens and government must work together to make sure that the public knows what is and is not legal

• Note: "ignorance of the law is no excuse"

What Citizens Can Do to Stay Informed

• 1. Town Meetings

• 2. Public Hearings

• 3. Public Forums

• 4. Media

What the Government can do to keep citizens informed

• 1. Press releases

• 2. Internet websites

• 3. Accessible public officials

• 4. Government publications

What the Government can do to keep citizens informed

• 5. Political debate

• 6. Franking privilege

• 7. Special Task Forces

Open Ended

What does the term "ignorance of the law is no excuse" mean?

Open Ended

What is an informed citizen?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not a way that citizens can take it upon themselves to be informed about laws and important issues?

• attending town meetings

• participating in public forums

• visiting government websites

• issuing press releases

Lobbyist and Interest groups

• Both influence public policy

• Lobbyists are paid to influence legislation on a particular issue

• Interest groups promote a particular cause or position

Open Ended

What is the difference between a lobbyist and an interest group?

Economic Interests

• economic interests - interests involving money

• business interest will cause corporations to hire lobbyists to push for or against certain legislation

• Chamber of Commerce - local and voluntary joint organization of local businesses focused on growth

Economic Interests

• Labor Unions - goal is to unify and represent workers who work in the same, or similar industries

• Agricultural groups provide aid to farmers in times of economic hardship

• ex. American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union

• professional groups lobby Congress for groups which require specialized training such as law and medicine

• ex. American Bar Association

Open Ended

What is a labor union not listed on the last slide?

Non-Economic Interests

• Non-Economic interests where money is not a driving force

• ideological belief - promote a principle or moral cause

• Public Interest groups vs. Single Interest groups ex. Veterans of Foreign Wars

Think Tanks

• Think tanks are organizations which were established for research, studying, and providing advice about important issues.

• ex. economics or foreign policy

Open Ended

What is a think tank and why do critics sometimes accuse them of presenting findings that are inaccurate?

Multiple Choice

In order to influence legislation on key issues, interest groups will often hire which of the following?

• think tanks

• professional groups

• lobbyists

• chambers of commerce