Research Assignment

Over break, each of you should choose an interest group or lobbying firm. For the remainder of the course, you will become our "resident expert" on that organization.  April 3 and 5, you will make very brief oral presentations. 

Examples could include:

• AARP
• GOA
• Norfolk Southern
• ACLU
• Pfizer
• Exxon
• SEIU
• AMA
• Autism Speaks

These examples are a tiny sample of what you could choose.

By April 14, write an essay analyzing the organization that you have chosen. In your answer, please answer these questions:

• Whom does the organization represent?
• How does the organization make decisions?
• What are its top current policy priorities? Tell how it is seeking to change or preserve certain statutes, rules, or practices.
• What strategy is it pursuing? Inside game or outside game? Legislative, executive or judicial action?
• In light of the 2022 election, what are its prospects for success over the next year?

Instructions:

• Document your claims. I expect thorough research, not just a summary of a couple of secondary sources. If you have not done so already, watch my research lecture.
• Essays should be typed (12-point), double-spaced, and no more than six pages long. I will not read past the sixth page. As always, please submit papers to the Sakai dropbox as Word documents, not pdfs or Google docs.
• Cite your sources with endnotes in Chicago/Turabian style. Endnote pages do not count against the page limit.
• Watch your spelling, grammar, diction, and punctuation. Errors will count against you.
• I will be happy to comment on outlines and oral presentations, but I will not be able to read full drafts.
• Due date is 11:59 PM on April 14. I reserve the right to dock papers a gradepoint for one day's lateness, a full letter grade after that.