interest group writing questions 1

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This assignment is based on an interest group I have chosen that is actively participating in US elections (either the 2018 midterm elections or the 2020 presidential election). This group is also active in other forms of lobbying.

You should develop detailed factual knowledge-the idea is to become an expert on this specific group.

**** The group I have chosen is is the NRA: The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is a gun rights advocacy group based in the United States. Founded in 1871, the group has informed its members about firearm-related legislation since 1934, and it has directly lobbied for and against firearms legislation since 1975.

General guidelines for the assignment are as follows:

  • Assignments need to be a Microsoft Word file single-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font with a standard 1 inch margin on all sides.
  • Assignments need to be supported by the course materials (text and lectures).
  • All references used to complete your assignments should be included in a reference list.
  • The use of direct quotes should be minimal, if at all; the paper should be primarily in your own words. Any quoted or paraphrased information should be cited.
  • Sources such as Wikipedia or about.com (or other similar websites) are NEVER appropriate for academic work.

Assignment- Interest Group: National Rifle Association of America (NRA)

Lobbying the Legislature

  • Does your interest group employ in-house or contract lobbyists (at the state and national level)?
  • What are the backgrounds of the lobbyists?
  • How has your interest group participated in lobbying?
  • Has the group testified at state or congressional hearings? Who else testified? (Was it one-sided?)
  • Are there (state or federal) legislators with whom the group works closely? What have they done?
  • Who (else) has the group targeted in their lobbying?
  • Are the targets allies, fence-sitters, or enemies? Has the group participated in any coalitions? On what issues?
  • Were there any coalitions in opposition? In how many legislative districts does the group have a presence?
  • Does the group produce original policy research conveyed to legislators? What have they published recently?
  • Use information provided by the group, as well as lobby and PAC registrations to answer these questions. Lobbying and especially expenditures can often be found at Open Secrets (national) and Follow the Money (state). National lobbying is reported to the House (see “Public Disclosure Search”) and Senate.
  • This section should be about 700 words.
  • Remember to cite any sources that you use. (Rough rule of thumb: if you write something that you did not know before taking the class, cite where you learned it. Citations/references do not count in the word limit.)

Campaign Finance

  • Does your group sponsor a political action committee (PAC)? (the answer to this question needs to be YES!)
  • When was it founded?
  • What is its fundraising history?
  • Does the PAC pursue an access or electoral strategy?
  • How many (state and federal) candidates received funds from the PAC in the last election cycle?
  • Has your group sponsored issues or used independent expenditures in campaigns?
  • If so, what were they about?
  • Is your group essentially affiliated with one of the major political parties?
  • Use information provided by the group, as well as PAC registrations and spending reports to answer these questions. Expenditures can often be found at Open Secrets(national) and Follow the Money (state).
  • This section should be about 500 words.
  • Remember to cite any sources that you use. (Rough rule of thumb: if you write something that you did not know before taking the class, cite where you learned it. Citations/references do not count in the word limit.)

Lobbying the Public

  • Does your interest group participate in indirect lobbying?
  • Does your group lobby for values or lobby for contact (or both)?
  • What techniques do they use? (For example, does your organization conduct original research?)
  • Is indirect lobbying a big part of your group’s activity?
  • Is this indirect lobbying connected with their direct lobbying, i.e. are they conducting all-directional lobbying?
  • Does your group help, compete with, or push the parties?
  • What is your group’s relationship with the political parties?
  • Does your group get involved with referendums and/or initiatives?
  • How effective is your group in using referendums/initiatives?
  • This section should be no more than 500 words (less if your group does not participate in these activities).
  • Remember to cite any sources that you use. (Rough rule of thumb: if you write something that you did not know before taking the class, cite where you learned it. Citations/references do not count in the word limit.)

Lobbying the Executive

  • Does your interest group meet with the chief executive (or his staff) at the federal (President) or state (governor) level?
  • Does your interest group have any interactions with the Office of Public Liaison?
  • How does your interest group lobby the bureaucracy?
  • Does your group propose or comment on proposed regulations/rules?
  • Does it serve on advisory committees?
  • Attempt to influence appointments?
  • Testify at hearings?
  • What is its position on these interactions? (Give examples of these activities.)
  • Can you describe your group as an ally or adversary to the current White House (or is it indifferent)?
  • This section should be no more than 500 words (less if your group does not participate in these activities).
  • Remember to cite any sources that you use. (Rough rule of thumb: if you write something that you did not know before taking the class, cite where you learned it. Citations/references do not count in the word limit.)

Lobbying the Judiciary

  • Has your group sued or been sued on an issue of public policy?
  • Or have they sponsored litigation or test cases? (Try the Lexis database.)
  • If your group has (been) sued, what arguments were raised in the briefs of the parties?
  • What were the resolutions of the cases?
  • Has your group filed amicus curiae briefs in state or federal court?
  • For certiorari or on the merits of the case? (Again, look at legal web sites as well as the group’s web site.)
  • If the group has filed amicus briefs, on what grounds did it claim a stake? Did any briefs raise policy or legal issues not raised by the parties to a case?
  • Has your group lobbied on judicial appointments? What methods did they use to lobby the appointments (e.g. internal/external or direct/indirect)?
  • How has your group connected its judicial lobbying to organizational maintenance?
  • This section should be no more than 500 words (much less if low involvement).
  • Remember to cite any sources that you use. (Rough rule of thumb: if you write something that you did not know before taking the class, cite where you learned it. Citations/references do not count in the word limit.)