1. Consider the various agents of political socialization that shape Americans' political views
(List five and describe how they influence individuals). Which of these agents has the most
important and lasting influence? Describe how two of these agents have impacted your own
political beliefs/ or lack thereof.
2. Discuss the role of interest groups in American politics. What are interest groups? What are the major types of interest groups? What purposes do they serve? Whose interests do they best represent? Are they beneficial to American society, or do they allow factions to pursue their own interests at the expense of the common good?
3. Describe the general process of public policy formation. How does public policy evolve from the recognition of a problem to the implementation of an effective solution? Must the government necessarily overlook or underfund certain problems? To put it another way, do Americans expect too much from the national government?
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