1.What role does interest group information play in policymaking? What do you see as the potential positives and negatives of having groups provide this information to policymakers? What might policymakers want to take into account when receiving information and data from interest groups? 2. Excessive partisanship, gerrymandered congressional districts, policymakers beholden to special interests, and government stalemate tend to dominate the Washington, D.C., news. Might there be ways to reboot the system so that it could work more effectively, efficiently, or ethically? 3. Some state legislatures (North Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan) have attempted to limit the powers of the governor upon losing party control of the executive branch during the lame-duck period after an election. Is this a legitimate use of policymaking authority? Why or why not? What are the potential concerns or benefits?" .