CZ:POL 214: US Political Parties and Interest Groups
From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium
K Street, a.k.a. Washington, DC's Lobbying District
Instructor: Shamira Gelbman
Email: sgelbman@ilstu.edu
Office Hours: T, Th 12:30-1:30 PM in 405 Schroeder Hall
Project Description
This Eduzendium project is the first of four components of a multi-genre research and writing project (described in full here (pdf)). In addition to writing encyclopedia articles about individual interest groups, POL 214 students will write opinion essays that use their peers' encyclopedia articles as a research springboard, letters to the editor that respond to their peers' opinion essays, and compositions that reflect on their research and writing process. Grant funding to develop this project was provided by the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology at Illinois State University.
What We're Working On
The following is a list of articles that the members of POL 214 will be working on during the Fall 2009 semester. These articles will be closed to editing by other citizens until after the conclusion of the course, though we'd appreciate hearing any comments or suggestions you might have on their respective talk subpages.
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Interest group: An organization that seeks to influence political and/or public policy outcomes. [e]
- American Cancer Society: American Cancer Society mission statement says “The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.” [e]
- American Farm Bureau: "Farm Bureau is an independent, non-governmental, voluntary organization governed by and representing farm and ranch families united for the purpose of analyzing their problems and formulating action to achieve educational improvement, econmomic opportunity and social advancement and, thereby, to promote the national well-being." [e]
- Americans for Democratic Action: Americans for Democratic Action is a group that was created to preserve the ideals of the New Deal, continue to uphold American values with democratic and liberal views. [e]
- Amnesty International: International non-governmental organisation, founded in London in 1961, which draws attention to human rights abuses and campaigns for compliance with international standards. [e]
- Feminist Majority Foundation: Working for social, political and economic equality for women by using research and education to improve women's lives. [e]
- Greenpeace: Greenpeace- An organization devoted to environmental activism, founded in the United States and Canada in 1971. Greenpeace has employed passive resistance in opposition to commercial whaling, the dumping of toxic waste into the sea, and nuclear testing. It is an example of an NGO. [e]
- Heritage Foundation: A Washington DC based conservative political think tank [e]
- Humane Society of the United States: Add brief definition or description
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- Marijuana Policy Project: A non-profit American interest group that lobbies for new marijuana legislation and reform. [e]
- National Committee for an Effective Congress: An interest group in which people from the United States organize different resources and raise money to elect promising candidates to the United States House of Representatives and Congress. [e]
- National Immigration Forum: "Interest group who seeks to continue making America welcome to immigrants" [e]
- National Rifle Association: A non-partisan, non-profit American interest group which claims promotion of gun ownership rights, firearm safety education, and marksmanship as its goals. [e]
- Rock the Vote: This organization was created to empower the American youth population by in the realm of politics by encouraging them to become involved in politics. Incorporating elements of youth culture and an understanding for youth life in America, this interest group informs young people on current political issues, helps youths register, and encourages voting among the youth population. [e]
