Instructional Materials Lesson 1

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There was a man named Gallup

who used scientific sampling in
order to determine the success
of a president. He
underwhelmed Roosevelts
odds, but he correctly predicted
the winner.

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Political Socialization organizer.

Have students write down all
six major agents of socialization
and have them identify which of
the six they believe to be the
most influential in their live
currently. Then inform them
that family is in fact the most
influential agent of
socialization.

Political Socialization
Name:

Date:

Instructional Materials Lesson 2

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Is public opinion to influential?

Why or why not?

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Instructional Materials Lesson 3

Voters
You have the most important part of the simulation! You get to decide who
will run the country! Each voter will have a personality. You will meet with the
facilitator to determine your personality and you will also be given an interest group
to support or not support depending on your voter personality. It will be very
important that you get these details from the facilitator. The types of voters are as
follows:

Electoral Specialist
Civic Specialist
Dual Activist
The Disengaged

You will be given the choice of which of these you would like to be. However,
all personalities
have to be represented. Therefore, you may not receive the first choice of which
personality you would like to be. After the decision of personality is made, you will
also have a choice of interest groups to be involved in or not involved with
depending on your voter personality. Once again, you may not receive your first
choice of interest group. Here is your list of interest groups:

National Rifle Association - Originally founded to advance rifle marksmanship,

the modern NRA continues to teach firearm competency and safety.
Right to Life - The group works through legislation and education to work
against induced abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and assisted suicide.
Planned Parenthood - a non-profit organization that provides reproductive
health as well as maternal health services in the U.S. and internationally.
Energy Transfer Equity - owning and operating one of the largest and most
diversified portfolios of energy assets in the United States; Natural Gas and
propane.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - The group provides education
and practice management services for orthopaedic surgeons and allied health
professionals. The AAOS also lobbies and works on public education.
Altria Group - one of the world's largest tobacco and cigarette corporations.
Las Vegas Sands - The company is one of the leading global developers of
destination properties.
Environment America - The organization researches and advocates for
environmental policies through lobbying and the mobilization of public
support.

Interest Groups/PACs
You will represent a certain Interest Group or PAC. Your facilitator will address
which interest groups you will represent. Some of you will be representing an
interest group that supports conservative thinking or that support liberal thinking.
You will be responsible for convincing politicians to support your issue and make it a
priority on their list. Youll have to convince them that supporting your issue will

gain them more votes from the public. The first thing youll need to do is meet up
with your voters who support your interest group. That will make it easier for you to
convince the politicians to choose your interest group as an important one; one they
might put on their platform. Here are the following interest groups/PACs will be
assigned:

National Rifle Association - Originally founded to advance rifle marksmanship,

the modern NRA continues to teach firearm competency and safety.
Right to Life - The group works through legislation and education to work
against induced abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and assisted suicide.
Planned Parenthood - a non-profit organization that provides reproductive
health as well as maternal health services in the U.S. and internationally.
Energy Transfer Equity - owning and operating one of the largest and most
diversified portfolios of energy assets in the United States; Natural Gas and
propane.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - The group provides education
and practice management services for orthopaedic surgeons and allied health
professionals. The AAOS also lobbies and works on public education.
Altria Group - one of the world's largest tobacco and cigarette corporations.
Las Vegas Sands - The company is one of the leading global developers of
destination properties.
Environment America - The organization researches and advocates for
environmental policies through lobbying and the mobilization of public
support.
Based on these descriptors, you should select one interest group to
represent. It will be your job
to persuade politicians to see why your interest group should matter to them. Find
ways to convince them why your interest group is important to them winning the
nomination.

Delegates
You are the representative for some of the crucial states during the primary.
Youve been selected to pick which candidate will represent the party the best. You
must listen to their platform issues, as well as what the voters believe about the
candidates. You dont want to pick someone just because they directly match-up
with what the Republican Party wants. You have to make sure the people want that
too, otherwise you will lose the election! Here are the five major issues for the
Republican Party this year. Candidates will have already selected their issues, so
there is no convincing your favorite politician to switch their issues. Remember to
listen to the people!
Republican Parties five major issues:
Fight Terrorism Abroad
Secure Borders
Protection of Unborn Lives
Gun Rights

Business Innovation

You will need to go around the room, talk to candidates one on one, poll the
voters, and decide
for your state which candidate deserves the nomination of the Democratic Party for
the Presidency of the United States. Good luck!

Delegates
You are the representative for some of the crucial states during the primary.
Youve been selected to pick which candidate will represent the party the best. You
must listen to their platform issues, as well as what the voters believe about the
candidates. You dont want to pick someone just because they directly match-up
with what the Democratic Party wants. You have to make sure the people want that
too, otherwise you will lose the election! Here are the five major issues for the
Democratic Party this year. Candidates will have already selected their issues, so
there is no convincing your favorite politician to switch their issues. Remember to
listen to the people!
Democratic Parties five major issues:
Equal Access to Healthcare
Nuclear Disarmament
Gun Control
Alternative Energy
Womens Right to Choose
You will need to go around the room, talk to candidates one on one, poll the
voters, and decide
for your state which candidate deserves the nomination of the Democratic Party for
the Presidency of the United States. Good luck!

Candidate
Congratulations! Youve declared to run for the Presidency of the United
States! You have selected to run as a Republican! You will be fighting against some
tough contenders to win the nomination of your party. You will need to select a
platform to run on; these are the issues you will choose to promote to the voters.
Keep in mind that these are the issues you will have to discuss and promote to the
voter population. The list of issues is as follows; you may select five issues. The
ones that are bolded are crucial topics among your voters! (Those should be 2 of
the 5 you select!)

Business Innovation
Energy Independence
Family Values
Fight Terrorism Abroad
Fiscal Responsibility
Global Independence

Gun Rights
Limited Government Spending
Lower Taxes
Peace through Strength
Protection of Unborn Lives
Right to Work
School Choice
Secure Borders
Once you have selected your platform, report back to your facilitator!

Candidate
Congratulations! Youve declared to run for the Presidency of the United
States! You have selected to run as a Democrat! You will be fighting against some
tough contenders to win the nomination of your party. You will need to select a
platform to run on; these are the issues you will choose to promote to the voters.
Keep in mind that these are the issues you will have to discuss and promote to the
voter population. The list of issues is as follows; you may select five issues. The
ones that are bolded are crucial topics among your voters! (Those should be 2 of
the 5 you select!)

Alternative Energy
Equal Access to Healthcare
Expanding the rights of LGBTQ
Federal Funding for Education
Global Cooperation
Government Transparency
Gun Control
Nuclear Disarmament
Pollution Standards
Protection of Natural Resources
Retirement Security
Right to Organize
Voting Rights
Womens Right to Choose
Once you have selected your platform, report back to your facilitator!

Instructional Materials Lesson 4

Electoral College Analysis

Name:

Date:

PRO

CON

Instructional Materials Lesson 5

Voters
Welcome to the next round of voting! You get to determine the next President
of the United States! Who will you choose a democrat, or a republican? Will you vote
at all? The choice is yours! You have only a few guidelines in order to participate in
this fully.
1
2
3
4
5

You are your own personality; dont worry about the personality you had
before.
You are open for business; the interest groups are going to try and buy
your vote somehow. Will you take the bait, or will you vote on your own
ideas?
Feel free to roam around the room. If you see a candidate, ask them a
question about their issues.
Live Tweet your opinions of the candidates! Use the hashtag
#TRHSGovtLive with your block number (i.e. #TRHSGovtLiveblock1) or
Tag @MrK_Govt or both with your comments on the election process.
Follow the media in the class as well! They will be sending out reports that
might peak your interests!
Candidates

Congratulations! You have won your parties nomination for the presidency.
Now you need to win the nation. It will be your job to outwit your opponent and win
the presidency. This can be done however youd like! Do you want to run an ad?
Some kind of media print? Want to give one last rousing speech? You have up until
the last 20 minutes of class to do any of these and then present your big speech!
Do what you can to win, but make sure its legal! No false claims and no social
issues; focus on the politics! Remember what the issues in the election are!
Candidates, you must share your issues with each other. You can use the time
in class to research the other issues, or you can use it to make your video on your
issues. Use your time wisely! If youre unprepared, your opponent will surely win!
Electoral College
You will once again have the final say in the votes. Iowa is the final state in
the election. The results have still not come in, and the electoral votes for Iowa will
decide the next president. No one else in the room knows this; they will be under
the impression that they need other electoral votes to win as well, and I will judge
based on their strategies in the election. Follow the media closely. Look at polls on
your phones and help the media ask questions to the voters to put out a poll. Follow
the hashtag #TRHSGovtLive followed by your block. (i.e. TRHSGovtLiveblock1).
Media Members
Get the information to the people! You now represent the media. Your main
use to get to the voters will be through Twitter. Report on the candidates issues, and

get the scoop on what theyre doing. Use the hashtag #TRHSGovtLive and then
insert your block number. (i.e. #TRHSGovtLiveblock1). Report only the good,
political issues; leave the personal matters out of it!
Interest Groups
Ready to persuade more voters? This time around might be a little harder.
None of your voters have a personality, and none of them are loyal to your interest
groups. It will be your job to sway the vote of the people, as well as put yourself in a
good light for the media. Be careful! One small slip up and the media will eat you
alive!