Informed and Active Informed and Active CitizenryCitizenry

Some Tactics and Strategies Used Some Tactics and Strategies Used and Considered by Citizens Within and Considered by Citizens Within

Societies Societies

Michael Quinones, NBCTwww.socialstudiesguy.com

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APK: Activation of Prior Knowledge

Write at least 2-3 sentences describing a time when…What would you be willing to do to legally stop this from

happening?

Question of the Day What are the characteristics of an active citizen? [what does he do or act like]

Term Notes/Definitions Why/how I think the term is important

Bias

Voting

Protest

Petition

Survey

Lobbying

BiasBias Most people have Most people have personal opinionspersonal opinions or or

points of viewpoints of view..

Our points of view are usually based on Our points of view are usually based on our our past experiencespast experiences and how we were and how we were raised.raised.

A A BiasBias is a belief or set of beliefs shaped is a belief or set of beliefs shaped by those by those personal opinionspersonal opinions, , points of points of viewview or or past experiencespast experiences. .

For example, someone might believe For example, someone might believe “black is beautiful”“black is beautiful” another person another person might think might think “white is beautiful”“white is beautiful” this is this is an extreme example. an extreme example.

VoteVote In the United States In the United States

votingvoting is a powerful is a powerful tool.tool.

Registered voters can Registered voters can vote people out of vote people out of officeoffice if they disagree if they disagree with the job they didwith the job they did

The power to make The power to make decisions through decisions through selection leaders. selection leaders.

ProtestProtest

Citizens gather in large Citizens gather in large groupsgroups and and publicly publicly complaincomplain about about something they believe something they believe is wrong.is wrong.

Protest can be written, Protest can be written, spoken or acted outspoken or acted out

Most times you need a Most times you need a police permit if it’s in a police permit if it’s in a public place.public place. Typical street protest or banner rally

PetitionPetition Statement of position or Statement of position or

complaint and have complaint and have people “sign on.”people “sign on.”

Leaders are Leaders are more likelymore likely to listen to large groups to listen to large groups than small groups.than small groups.

Why do you think that is?Why do you think that is?

If many, many citizens If many, many citizens show displeasure they show displeasure they might decide to vote as a might decide to vote as a group.group.

SurveySurvey Designed to find out about Designed to find out about

public opinionpublic opinion..

Questions can be asked Questions can be asked and information is used to and information is used to inform leaders about what inform leaders about what people think and feel.people think and feel.

Sets of Sets of specific specific questionsquestions are called are called surveyssurveys..

Information obtained in Information obtained in surveys can be used to surveys can be used to improve or manipulate improve or manipulate people.people.

LobbyingLobbying People can influence lawmakers.People can influence lawmakers.

Tell them about issues.Tell them about issues.

Even pay them to vote in a Even pay them to vote in a certain way.certain way.

People called who do these People called who do these types of things are called types of things are called lobbyists.lobbyists.

Groups who want to get certain Groups who want to get certain laws passed hire lobbyists to laws passed hire lobbyists to convince legislators to pass laws convince legislators to pass laws that will favor them.that will favor them.

For example, a tobacco company For example, a tobacco company pays a lobbyist to convince pays a lobbyist to convince Congress to lower excise taxes Congress to lower excise taxes on cigarettes.on cigarettes.

Infamous and once highly influential lobbyist Jack Abramoff

Group ActivityGroup Activity Students form into groups of no more than 4 students Students form into groups of no more than 4 students

and and select one [1]select one [1] of the activities involving of the activities involving active active citizenscitizens..

BiasBias VotingVoting ProtestProtest PetitionPetition SurveySurvey Lobbying Lobbying

Create a scenario/skit demonstrating how these tactics Create a scenario/skit demonstrating how these tactics can be used by an active citizen to get something done. can be used by an active citizen to get something done. Make sure your skit is understandable by announcing Make sure your skit is understandable by announcing who each person is before your activity begins. The skit who each person is before your activity begins. The skit will be shared verbally with the entire class. will be shared verbally with the entire class.

SourcesSources http://www.dailybusinessreview.com/images/VotingMa

chines.jpg http://lmno4p.org/images/articles/protest.jpg http://www.saveourtreehouse.com/http://www.saveourtreehouse.com/

SaveOurTreehouse/neighborhood/petition_page_4.gifSaveOurTreehouse/neighborhood/petition_page_4.gif http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/

thumb/5/55/170px-Lynching-1889.jpgthumb/5/55/170px-Lynching-1889.jpg http://www.profitablemarketing.co.uk/Images/http://www.profitablemarketing.co.uk/Images/

internet_marketing/Web%20design%20-internet_marketing/Web%20design%20-%20questionnaire.gif%20questionnaire.gif

http://www.blackgirlmagazine.com/sitebuildercontent/http://www.blackgirlmagazine.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Black-girl.jpgsitebuilderpictures/Black-girl.jpg