CE 10 - Media, Interest Groups and International Impact

The media plays an important role in letting the public know about issues and candidates. Why is a debate a good way to do this?

• It helps the public focus on selected issues

• It publicly holds government officials accountable for misdeeds

• It allows a forum for differing viewpoints to be expressed

• All of the above

Separating fact from fiction and detecting bias (unfairness) are two strategies for:

• judging PACS and SUPERPACS

• selecting candidates for office

• evaluating what we see and hear in the media

• determining which ordinances in local government to challenge

An interest group is:

• a group that elects the President through the Electoral College

• a group that elects the President and Vice-President through the Electoral College

• a group that wants to influence public policy/laws

• a group that is the legislative branch of counties

Individuals and interest groups LOBBY law-makers to vote for or against a bill. Lobby means to:

• correct

• eliminate

• influence

• monitor (watch for)

Which of the following IS NOT an example of lobbying?

• Making law-makers (legislators) aware of certain issues

• Making political contributions (giving $) to PACS - who then go out and campaign for candidates

• Expressing opinions, demonstrating and writing letters/emails

• Hitting the ball high and long in tennis

A(n) _____ focuses on one major issue in an attempt to persuade lawmakers to vote for or against a bill

• interest group

• PAC

• major political party

• SUPERPAC

Before a law becomes a law, it must be introduced, debated and voted on in Congress. During this stage it is known as a(n):

• bill

• agenda

• option

• item

Sometimes international issues and events impact local governments and decision-making. A synonym for international is?

• United States

• Loudoun County

• Virginia

• Planet Earth

Which scenario is NOT an example of an international issue or event?

• How Loudoun County schools will be funded

• A pandemic that starts in China

• An act of terrorism that happens in France

• The threatened extinction of the white rhino in Kenya

International issues can affect us locally because such issues:

• happen every two years

• can affect any or all countries no matter where they are

• require the Federal government to get involved

• only apply to citizens of Loudoun County