What can citizens do to affect public policies?

1. AGENDA
 Please turn your cell phone off
 Attendance
 Petitions and Protests
 Lobbying
 Political Parties
 Next class assignment:

2. In-class reflection:
 Based on your values, what government
policy would you be so passionate about that
you would be willing to go to jail to fight it?
 How would you go about protesting, if you
decided you needed to?

3. The Constitution recognizes
two ways to make your
voice heard
1. The right to dissent
2. The right to petition.

4.  Have you ever signed a
petition or participated in
a protest
demonstration? What
was the result?
 Would you do it again?
Is there a cause you are
willing to die for?

5.  Large number of people
 Causes a mass disruption of
everyday life
 Personal sacrifice – a willingness
to be beaten, to go to jail, or to
die
 Can you think of any
successful protest
movements?

6.  Boston Tea Party
 NY Anti-Rent War – 1839 first laws to protect
tenants from unreasonable landlords.
 Civil Rights
 Women’s suffrage
 Anti-Vietnam War
 Stonewall – Gay Rights
 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire – Workers’ Safe
Workplace Rights

7.  Are online petitions, social networking, and
e-mails effective ways to protest government
policy?

8. 1. Hard to know who is sponsoring them.
2. Political figures do not weigh them as highly as
they do people shouting at them up close and
personal or those who give them money.
3. Main purpose of many groups is to build up
their e-mail lists and solicit money.
4. Foster individual feel-good action instead of
forming an angry critical mass who will disrupt
society and risk their lives.
http://www.truthorfiction.com/petitions/

9.  There are over 23000 interest groups in the US.
These groups fund lobbyists whose job it is to
create and encourage policies favorable to the
group’s interests.
What are the positives of lobbying?
What are the negatives of lobbying?
Would the government still work without
lobbyists?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTbtKRdYbYo

10. Fill in the questionnaire.
Which party do you agree
with the most? Does this
match the party you vote for
most often?
Why do we have a two
party system?
https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=5eInuuLp1Dw

11.  Citizens
 Christian Liberty
 Conservative
 Democrat
 Green
 Independence (NY)
 Independent
 Libertarian
 Objectivist
 Peace & Freedom
 Reform
 Republican
 Socialist
 Tea Party
 US Pacifists
 US Marijuana
 Working Families
And more…

12. Put people back to work
Cut deficient spending
Everyone pay fair share of
taxes
Wall Street reform
Transparent government
Lobbying & campaign reform
Immigration reform
Head Start
Family Medical leave
GI bill for veterans
Rural sewers and internet
access
Women’s equality
Right to Choose
Voting rights
Raise minimum wages
Crime prevention
Address global warming
2012 Platform Democratic
Platform sample

13. • Lower corporate tax rate
• Balance the federal budget
• Audit the Federal Reserve
• Private mortgage system to
replace FHA
• Housing vouchers for elderly and
low income
• Improve water systems and ports
• Improve roads and transportation
systems
• Strategic immigration for highly
skilled people in technology and
sciences
• Pass the Trans-Pacific Trade
(TTP)Agreement
• State-block grants for job training
rather than Federal programs
• Protect 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 9th
Amendment rights
• Protect sanctity of human life
• Protect the American flag
Republican Party 2012 Platform
sample
• Simplify tax system
• Reform tax code
• Free market policies
• Invest in small businesses

14. • Oppose all censorship
• Freedom to engage or abstain from religious
practices. No government support of religions
• End government spying on individuals
• Equal treatment regardless of sexual
orientation, gender, or gender identity
• Abortion should be a individual decision.
Government should keep out of it.
• Repeal all “victimless crimes” such as drug
use.
• Support 2nd amendment gun rights
• Free trade. Government should not
redistribute wealth or manage trade.
• No government restriction on property
ownership such as eminent domain or setting
rents
• Protecting the environment should be left to
environment groups and social pressure, not
the government.
• Energy producers, banks, and businesses
should not be subsidized
• Individuals have the right to
make their own choices and
face the consequences of
those choices
• Individuals own their own
bodies and are responsible for
their own health, finances, and
safety

15.  For Thursday 9/24 Be prepared to discuss
Chapter 11.
 Have you attended a local government
meeting yet?