07 Jul Special Interest Group Project
Special Interest Group project guidelines:
Label each section with a separate heading on a new page: Section I + heading, Section
II + heading, etc.
Each section requires an introductory paragraph explaining the goal of the section and
how you will meet it.
There MUST be a cover page and a Works Cited page; use MLA style in this paper
Due in class typed and double-spaced 100 possible points
Use MLA Style and PROPERLY cite and reference your research.
Overview: the respective 9 sections of this paper will require you to:
(I) Create a special interest group supporting a cause that you support; give this
organization a name and a mission statement. This is your political baby.
(II) Give the backstory and the history of your cause. Why it is important to you: Why it
is important for the public to support your cause and group?
(III) Hire a lobbyist to persuade legislators to support your cause
(IV) Draft state legislation in support of your cause and interest group. This would be a
law that, when passed, will further the cause of your group?
(V) Draft a direct initiative for the California state ballot
(VI) Plan an engaging and persuasive public event; you will create a publicity flyer for
this event encouraging people to attend; be sure to include location/date/time of event
(VII) stage an act of civil disobedience to draw more attention to your cause
(VIII) summarize the state of democracy in the US and the legitimacy of the current
political process. How might these current conditions influence the chances for success of
your cause and organization?
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SECTION I: YOUR POLITICAL BABY ORGANIZE A SPECIAL INTEREST
GROUP IN SUPPORT OF YOUR CAUSE
1. CREATE A NAME
2. DRAFT A MISSION STATEMENT
3. MEMBER REQUIREMENTS
FORMAT THIS SECTION IN THIS PRECISE ORDER:
I. Interest group name
II. Mission statement
Draft a mission statement for your group. These are short and get right to the
point. They should not be more than 2 sentences in length. The mission statement
states the specific goal of your group. It does not detail how that goal will be
reached.
III. Membership requirements groups are always looking for new members
Who can join your group? (You cant just say anyone; for example, groups that
work with children would not want pedophiles; vegans would not want hunters)
What are you looking for in potential members?
(ie: ideology profile of the ideal member)
What is required of members?
– meetings
– dues
– minimum volunteer hours per month
– duties
– committee work
o annual goals
o fund-raisers
o community outreach
SAMPLE MISSION STATEMENT FROM DFEH:
The mission of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing is to protect the people
of California from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing and public
accommodations and from the perpetration of acts of hate violence.
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SAMPLE INTERESTS/CAUSES (NOT REQUIRED TO CHOOSE ONE OF THESE):
Abortion pro/con
AIDS
Animal Rights
Bullying (including Internet harassment)
Private Welfare/Corporate Welfare (bailouts, subsidies)
i.e.: should government give bailouts
i.e.: should government cease giving bailouts
Disabled rights
Drug addiction
Education
Eldercare Issues
Energy
Environmental Protection
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) [also addresses gender rights including GLBT rights]
Euthanasia (right to die issues)
Gangs
Gay rights
Grandparents rights
Gun control
Healthcare
Homeless issues
Immigration (i.e. increased immigration rights or tougher restrictions)
PATRIOT Act challenges
Racism
Separation of Church and State (i.e. strengthening the political divide or closing the gap)
Mental healthcare reform
Sexism
Special interests (i.e.: Tobacco lobby, sugar lobby, gun lobby)
more restrictions
less restrictions
Tax reform
Unions
Utility Regulation
Veterans rights and benefits
Veterans healthcare
Violence
in the media
in video games
Voting rights
Wage Discrimination (i.e.: gender, ethnicity, age)
Welfare
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SECTION II: HISTORY OF YOUR INTEREST/CAUSE
FORMAT THIS SECTION IN THIS PRECISE ORDER:
I. Write a comprehensive (complete) history on the subject of your interest or cause.
THIS IS NOT THE HISTORY OF YOUR GROUPS FOUNDING
IT IS THE HISTORY OF THE CAUSE WHY IS YOUR GROUP NEEDED?
In this accounting, be sure to address all the points listed below.
Why does your group need to exist? Be specific and use examples.
– Explain why your interest group is necessary to improve society and
further the betterment of the United States and/or the world.
– Who will your organization serve?
– In what way will it advance the democratic ideals of fairness, justice,
equality of opportunity, safeguarding the environment, promoting the
arts or education, science, health, clean water, ample food, etc.
II. Every interest group has its enemies.
(For example, pro-abortion/anti-abortion groups; Big Oil v. Environmental Protection)
Who is against you?
What are the groups/organizations that work in opposition to the cause of your
interest group? Who wants your organization to fail? Be specific: name them.
What are their arguments against your cause and your organization?
How will you fight back against their attacks on your organization?
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SECTION III: HIRING A LOBBYIST
FORMAT THIS SECTION IN THIS PRECISE ORDER:
As part of your political strategy, your group will hire a lobbyist to influence legislators
on behalf of your organization. In the next section (Section IV), you will draft a piece of
legislation that you want to see passed that will help your cause. It might be funding; it
might be the creation of a special task force or agency. The goal of your lobbyist is to
influence politicians to vote for this legislation.
This person must be qualified to represent your organization.
You will create a full profile for your lobbyist.
Start with bullet points for key information following the format for a real resume
Name
Age
Education
– institutions attended, degrees earned
Work history
– list the organizations your lobbyist has worked for and what she/he did
Experience as a lobbyist
– what are the specific strengths of your lobbyist and how do these qualities/skills
work to his/her advantage?
– what legislation has been successfully passed due the efforts of this lobbyist?
In essay format:
Why is this person a good fit for your organization?
– be sure his/her skill set and accomplishments match your organizations needs
YOU ARE HIRING A PROFESSIONAL. YOU CAN PICK A REAL
LOBBYIST, OR YOU CAN MAKE ONE UP WHO HAS APPROPRIATE
QUALIFICATIONS. YOUR CHOICE MUST BE REALISTIC.
OPRAH IS NOT A LOBBYIST. DO NOT LIST HER. OPRAH WINFREY
WILL NEVER AGREE TO BE YOUR LOBBYIST. SHE ALREADY HAS A JOB.
SIMILARLY, BONO, GEORGE CLOONEY, DRAKE, OBAMA, BEYONCE,
JOE BIDEN, HILLARY CLINTON, GEORGE BUSH, WILL NOT BE YOUR
LOBBYIST. THEY, TOO, HAVE JOBS.
NO SEATED POLITICIAN/LEGISLATOR CAN BE CHOSEN BECAUSE ITS
ILLEGAL. BEING A LOBBYIST AND A SEATED POLITICIAN IS A CONFLICT OF
INTEREST.
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SECTION IV: DRAFTING YOUR FEDERAL LEGISLATION
Intro paragraph: in 2-4 sentences explain what you will be doing in this section (In
this section I will )
FORMAT THIS SECTION IN THIS PRECISE ORDER:
I. DRAFT FEDERAL BILL. This means a bill that will go through both houses of
Congress. It is a bill that you want to see passed because it furthers your issue or cause.
Bills do not need to be lengthy, but they need to be very explicit and precise.
Basic sample:
Section 1. All licensed drivers in all states must be a minimum of 18 years of age.
Section 2. The 50 state legislatures shall have the power to require their respective
Departments of Motor Vehicles to amend regulations to reflect this new minimum age
requirement. In addition to permanent state seizure of the vehicle driven by the offending
driver, any driver in any vehicle not meeting this requirement will face a $5,000 fine or
one year in jail, or both.
Section 3. This new law will take place January 1, 2022.
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SECTION V: WORKING AT THE STATE LEVEL GETTING A DIRECT
BALLOT INITIATIVE ON THE CALIFORNIA BALLOT
FORMAT THIS SECTION IN THIS PRECISE ORDER:
I. Explain fully what a direct initiative is and why it is used.
II. Draft an initiative that will further your organizations cause (look on-line for sample
ballot initiatives)
III. In a series of numbered steps, explain the ENTIRE step-by-step process required to
get your initiative on the California ballot. This includes the drafting of the bill,
contacting California Secretary of States office for complete information on the process,
etc. This will require 2-3 pages of steps and explanation:
1. drafting the bill
2. etc.
3. etc.
4. etc. (hint: https://www.sos.ca.gov/)
BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC ON THE STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS: LIST
EVERY STEP REQUIRED FROM DRAFTING THE INITIATIVE TO GETTING IT
ON THE BALLOT.
DO NOT INCLUDE THE INITIATIVE PROCESS FOR OTHER STATES
THIS IS TO BE A CALIFORNIA STATE LAW — DO NOT LIST THE STEPS
TO GET A FEDERAL LAW PASSED
PROPERLY CITE YOUR RESEARCH ON YOUR WORKS CITED PAGE
THE GOOD NEWS: YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE THE 2 ND
SECTION HERE FIND A COMPREHENSIVE WEBSITE
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SECTION VI: RECALLING THE GOVERNOR (this is happening in real time)
Your group is extremely dissatisfied with the current governor (the real one, do not make
one up), who is staunchly opposed to your special interest group and pledges to veto
legislation that would further your cause (even if he actually supports your cause, pretend
that he doesnt and crucify him). You will launch a campaign to recall the governor.
FORMAT THIS SECTION IN THIS PRECISE ORDER:
I. Explain in detail why the governor doesnt like your organization and how his position
is hindering fairness and democracy in your efforts to better the world.
II. How will you get the public to support the recall? You need to describe a plan of
action. What is your strategy to ultimately get voters to the polls and vote him out? You
are asking the voters to fire him, so you will need to give them a good reason.
III. EXPLAIN EVERY SINGLE STEP IN GETTING THE GOVERNOR RECALLED.
What government office deals with the recall process? Wording of the recall? Signatures?
Etc. The steps should be numbered and in a list. This will require 2-3 pages of steps and
explanation:
1. Notice of intention (you will need to explain what this is)
2. etc.
3. etc. (there are many more than 3 steps keep going)
DO NOT DESCRIBE THE PROCESS IN OTHER STATES, ONLY CALIFORNIA
THE GOOD NEWS: YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE THE 2 ND
SECTION HERE FIND A COMPREHENSIVE WEBSITE
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SECTION VII: HOSTING A PUBLIC EVENT/CREATING A FLYER
This section is in 2 parts and is 2 pages at a minimum:
an explanatory page
a flyer
(1) GOAL: GETTING THE PUBLICS ATTENTION TO SUPPORT YOUR
CAUSE AND ORGANIZATION
(2) THIS IS NOT A FUND-RAISER IT IS PROMOTIONAL
***HERE IS THE PLACE TO INCLUDE YOUR DREAM CELEBRITIES ***
I. Plan an informative public event to bring attention to your cause. It may be a
rally, a political debate, a concert, A 5K/10K run, a street fair, etc.
At a minimum, your REALISTIC plan needs to include these elements:
Where will your event be held?
Be realistic. You are a student. You cannot afford Dodger Stadium or the Staples Center
or the Forum
Be realistic: there must be food and music or entertainment, or people wont attend
Be realistic: Make the event free or people will not attend
Be practical: Where will people park? Make sure you have an information booth
Who is your audience? Who will pay attention to you and support you?
Who will perform?
Who will speak at your event and what will they say? Pick a realistic celebrity or two or
three who would support your cause. These would be people already on record as
supporting similar causes (i.e. Betty White and animal rights).
II. YOU WILL NEED TO CREATE AN ACTUAL PUBLICITY
FLYER FOR THIS EVENT
It should be 8X10 and COLOR (words/text can be black)
It should contain ALL the necessary information for people to attend: your
organizations name; the events name and its purpose; time/date/place/parking;
information on food that would be served, rides/prizes, etc., if included
Be creative about getting your message out. You are fighting for a just cause, a neglected
issue, or group, or part of the planet that has been denied attention or fairness or decency.
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SECTION VII: YOU WILL PLAN AN ACT OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
YOU NEED TO NON-VIOLENTLY BREAK THE LAW (ON PAPER ONLY!)
Plan on going to jail (on paper). Civil disobedience means performing a non-violent act
in protest of what you think is a moral or civil wrong being perpetrated against a group,
individual, the environment, animals, etc. Your goal is to bring attention to the wrong and
in some way work to stop it. You are willing to go to jail for your cause.
For example, environmentalists have saved ancient trees from developers by taking up
residence in the trees (often for days or weeks at a time) and not letting heavy equipment
operators knock them down. Animal rights activists have broken into labs and set animals
free that have endured horrific chemical or other experimentation.
BE REALISTIC NOT THUGGISH IN YOUR PLAN OF ACTION: No violence,
mugging, shooting, bombing, spray-painting, brick throwing, or other property damage
AT A MINIMUM INCLUDE THESE ELEMENTS:
explain who/what is your target, and why?
what specific day and time will you choose to conduct your civil disobedience
and why?
what are you going to do when you arrive on site at your chosen location? Do
you need to bring specific supplies to carry out your plan? What are the supplies you will
use and why?
how many people will join you (be realistic), or are you going to do it alone?
how long will your act of civil disobedience last?
what would make your act of civil disobedience be appealing to the public
why should they root for you and cheer your act of defiance?
who will criticize you for your act of civil disobedience and why?
do you have bail money?
THIS SHOULD BE A POWERFUL PUBLIC STATEMENT
HOLDING SIGNS IN PROTEST IS NOT ILLEGAL
A PICKET LINE IS NOT ILLEGAL
SHOUTING NAMES AT YOUR SWORN ENEMIES IS NOT ILLEGAL
SHOUTING PROTEST SLOGANS IS NOT ILLEGAL
POLICE ARE NEVER NOTIFIED IN ADVANCE OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
YOU MUST BREAK THE LAW (ON PAPER) VIA CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
