Instruction
1st Assignment (Due June 2) - View the following video, “Lobbying: When is a Lobbyist not a Lobbyist?” which is part of the “Washington under the influence” video. The link is in the Books and Resources for this Week.As you are watching, note the dynamics of the relationships between all interested parties. Then, craft an analysis that addresses the following questions:•What happens when interest groups compete – and for whom is the outcome positive or negative?•Why would lobbyists want to form coalitions? What are the pros and cons of forming coalitions?•At what cost does winning come for the lobbyist? To what extent should lobbyists (if at all) accommodate each other.In the analysis, briefly describe what you consider to be the two or three major (primary) and integrative points or issues contained in the readings. Explain how these points or issues integrate with the materials covered in the course thus far and then explain their relevance to you. Then, briefly describe the questions/challenges you have regarding the readings and explain why they are important questions/challenges. Additionally, explain why the video is noteworthy, how it pertains to the assigned readings (i.e., complements, contradicts, extends the readings), and what the implications are for you. Your assignment should be two (2) pages in length, double-spaced in Times New Roman font, 12-point font, with one (1) inch margins.
2nd Assignment (Due June 9) - Choose one of the three prompts below and analyze it based on the readings.
•The public is far from omniscient; individuals do not walk around with all the information they need to make judgments about issues that arise and to decide what government should do about them. They depend on information from others (Glynn et. al., 2018, p. 321).
•The primary language of public life has become visual, not verbal. Assess this statement in terms of a policy issue of your choice.
•In a republic, the people are indeed sovereign and the majority has the democratic right to speak for the whole. But our Founders wisely limited the use of that democratic right with republican institutions in order to protect the people from “the tyranny of their own passions.” Precisely because of these limitations, the people are able to express their sovereignty in their most reasonable capacity (Humphrey, 2018).
Present your analysis in the form of a story. Your story should have an identifiable issue, and link theory to practice. For example, if you choose the first prompt, your story might be about how residents of a small town in Vermont were swayed by a local news source to advocate against allowing inmates to vote from prison. Advocates in favor of this practice say that allowing inmates to have a voice is a profound part of rehabilitation that can begin while inmates are serving their time. Advocates against this practice are saying that inmates gave up their rights to be included in society’s lawmaking process when they broke the law – and a better way to rehabilitate would be for inmates to be required to petition for restoration of rights post-incarceration. Tell the story of your chosen issue, document all sides of the issue, and connect the theory behind the issue to practice.
This assignment will require you to do original research. Support your story with at least five scholarly resources. In addition to these specified resources, other appropriate scholarly resources, including older articles, may be included.
Length: 3 - pages, not including title and reference pages