Interest Groups, Political Parties, & Elections

Exam Study Guide is Right here!

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Guiding Questions

• How do citizens organize and communicate their interests and concerns in our government?

• How do interest groups affect the political process? Are they a benefit for our democracy?

• What’s the election process in this country? Is it fair? How would you reform it to make it more so?

• Why do we have political parties?

• How do political parties affect the political process? Are they a benefit for our democracy?

Resources You Will Need

• Examples of Interest Groups: http://www.ccsark.org/11thhonors/courseunit/politicalbehavior/interestgroups.htm

Topics

Topic #1: Interest Groups

• What are they?

• What role do they play in the political process? Click here for Interest Group Assignment | Click here to view our analysis of Interest Groups

• How would you evaluate this role? 4 Corner Debate

Topic #2: Elections

• How are candidates selected to run for office?

• What role is played by political parties, interest groups, and PACS in campaigns? What role should they play?

• Is there a need to reform the current political process? If so how?

Topic #3: Political Parties

• What are political parties?

• What role do political parties play in the political process?

• What are the differences between the parties?