Provided below are a series or questions for chapters 8, 9, 11 (Modules 7, 8, and 9). For each section, answer the specified number of questions asked of you (number to answer will be in parentheses).Answers for the short answer questions need run no longer than a paragraph or two in length. Please make sure to include your last name and "WA #3" when you send the assignment to me. Please type up your answers in any word processing software that is "readable" by a PC [i.e. no Mac/Apple Pages documents please convert to pdf, docx. rtf, etc.]. Attach the file in the proper area in the assignment section.

Module 7 (Ch. 8): [Answer THREE of the following questions]

1. Name the five methods of political participation discussed in your textbook. Briefly discuss and differentiate each.
2. What are the three elements needed for active participation in politics? Briefly explain each.
3. How can a group of citizens lobby government? How do groups use public relations to influence government?
4. Explain the demographic characteristics of people who are most likely to vote. Based on this examination, would you fall into the "likely to vote" category?
5. Why did the Progressives want voter registration? What has been the effect of voter registration?
6. Discuss the 15^th, 19^th, and 26^th Amendments and their importance on the ability to participate in politics?

Module 8 (Ch. 9): [Answer THREE of the following questions]

1. Both political parties and interest groups seek influence over the government. What is the major difference in the way that political parties and interest groups pursue that goal?
2. What are realignments? Historically, when and why do realignments occur?
3. How are third-party candidates hampered by the United States' single-member-district plurality (SMD-P) election system? Theoretically, how could this hurt the two-party system?
4. Why are political parties important in a democracy? What types of functions do they perform?
5. What is the reason that social forces unite into an organized political party?
6. How is the function of a congressional campaign committee different from the function of a party's national committee?

Module 9 (Ch. 11): [Answer THREE of the following questions]

1. What is an iron triangle? How does it benefit interest groups?
2. How does the free rider problem affect group involvement? Why would interest groups offer benefits to its members?
3. Why would interest groups offer benefits to their members? Define and differentiate the types of incentives groups offer to their members?
4. What are some activities that a typical lobbyist would do to influence government? In other word, what are interest groups' strategies for influence?
5. What is pluralist theory? Explain two criticisms of pluralism.
6. Describe three ways in which interest groups attempt to influence the courts.

All Modules: [Answer ONE of the following questions]

1. What is mobilization? How active are political parties today in mobilizing voters? Why?
2. What do a party's principal efforts and energy go into? Has this changed from the past? If so, how?
3. What is the difference between public interest groups, ideological groups, and public-sector groups?