Look:
Explanation:
1. How can “we the people” influence the government? How can we monitor and make sure the government is working for us? How can we the
people work to make change in government? These are all important questions for “we the people” to think about, and we’re going to explore them in
this video.
2. After watching the video, you will be able to: identify and evaluate methods used by interest groups, the media, and individuals to influence and
monitor the government. You’ll also be able to evaluate the impact of media, interest groups, and individuals on the government. So let’s dive in.
3. Before we dive too deep, there is a definition we need to know, and that is what we mean by influencing the government. To influence the
government is to try to persuade or convince the government to do something. And how do we do that? Well we do that through something called the
First Amendment, an important part of our Bill of Rights.
4. It’s important to think about the freedoms in the First Amendment. Freedoms of speech, press, peaceable assembly, and petitioning the government
allow groups and individuals to influence the government. You got to remember that the First Amendment plays a vital role in influencing our
government and making sure the government is working for us.
5. That really is one of the most important questions we can ask. How can individuals influence the government that is supposed to serve us? Well,
individual citizens can influence the government by doing one of the most important civic responsibilities: Voting. Whether its for a candidate or an
issue, every time a citizen votes in an election, they’re influencing the government.
6. Citizens can also attend civic meetings, especially in their local community. These meetings, such as city council meetings, provide individuals
with a face-to-face opportunity with government leaders. During these meetings, individuals can influence officials by sharing their opinions about
their issues of concern.
7. The right to petition the government, one of the freedoms listed in the First Amendment, means any nonviolent, legal means of encouraging or
disapproving government action. Doing a petition is another way that we as individuals can influence the government.
8. Citizens can write a petition about an issue and collect signatures in support of that issue. Citizens can then present these signed petitions to
government officials hoping to influence how they make or enforce public policy. But keep in mind that petitioning the government can also mean
doing things like public protests or marches.
