Interest Group WebQuest

Interest Group Internet Scavenger Hunt
Directions: In order to help you learn about the controversies of interest groups and their actions, utilize the following links to answer the questions that follow. For much of this activity, you will be utilizing the resources ofwww.opensecrets.org. Click on Influence and Lobbying

1. What is the goal of Corporations and industry groups, labor unions, single-issue organizations?

I. Click on Interest Groups. Along left side of screen click on Top Interest Groups to Congress

1. Name the top 5 Interest groups who gave $$ to Congress in the 2012 election cycle.

2. Which Industry Supports Which Political Party?
   Based on the data in this chart, make a list comparing the top 5 industries that gave the most to each of the following political parties in the 2012 election cycle. List the amount they donated to that party. Your are encouraged to click on the different industries and read about their background.

Industries that Supported the Democrats	Industries that Supported the Republicans
1. 2. 3 4. 5.	1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

3.  Why do you suppose that some interest groups give to both parties?

4. Research the new industry RETIRED.   Is it an industry at all? Who are they giving money to, the Democrats or the Republicans? What are their major concerns?

E.  Who were the top  members of Congress that received contributions from this industry?

F. Look at the contribution charts for Retired. Write one summary based on these charts.

G. On the left side of the screen, click on Interest Groups List -  Click on any three Groups and identify the group/who they represent, How much money are they giving? To what party is getting the most? What are some trends of the past several years?

II. Click on the icon for Lobbying

1. What trends do you observe in the number of lobbyists and the amount of money spent on lobbying?


2. Make a list of the top five interest group spenders so far in 2012—include the amount of money they have spent on lobbying so far.

Top 5 Interest Groups	Amount of Money Spent (2012)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

3. Describe the function of the interest group that has spent the most money on lobbying thus far in 2010 (you will need to use outside resources)




4. Make a list of the top three lobbying firms thus far in 2012 (based on money received for their services). Include how much money they have received thus far.

Top 3 Lobbying Firms	Amount of Money Received (2012)
1.
2.
3.

III. The Revolving Door:
1. Explain the meaning of the phrase “revolving door”.




2. Name the current “Featured Revolver.” What is his current title? For whom did he work before?



3. Click on Former Members. Pick any 3 names and list who they used to work for and for whom they now work.

4. What are the pros & cons of the “revolving door”?

PROS of Revolving Door

CONS of Revolving Door

IV. Click on Political Action Committees (PACs):

1. Briefly explain the function of PACs?

2. Make a list of the top five PACS in 20101 —include the amount of money the PAC spent.

Top 5 PACS	Amount of Money Spent (2011)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

3. What are Leadership PACS?



4. Make a list of the top five Leadership PACS in 2011 —include the amount of money the PAC spent.

Top 5 Leadership PACS & Their Affiliate (politician)	Amount of Money Spent
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

V. 527 Groups:
1. Describe the functions of 527 groups.



2. Why are these groups called ‘527s’?

3. In 2010, in what two categories did 527s spend much of their money?



Concluding Analysis 


A. Explain the benefits that interest groups provide to our political system.

B. Explain the detriments that interest groups provide to our political system.

C. Based on the information you have discovered about interest groups, do you feel that interest groups have anOVERALL positive or negative affect on the USA political system? Use details and examples to support your answer.

 File Interest Group Internet Scavenger Hunt1.doc (doc file - 48 KB)

"doc file: You need the Microsoft Word program, a free Microsoft Word viewer, or a program that can import Word files in order to view this file. To learn more about the free Microsoft Word Viewer, visit the Microsoft Word website."