Ashford 5: - Week 4 - Learning Activity Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Elections The various political actors involved in the processes, activities, and policies of the U.S. government each have evolving goals and objectives. In addition, these actors have produced differential effects, both positive and negative, on the processes, activities, and policies of the federal government. In this last weekly worksheet, you will assess the positive and negative impacts of political parties, interest groups, or federal elections on the national government. In addition, you will recommend one option to enhance the positive impact and one to diminish the negative impact. This final effort will conclude the process of critically analyzing key features of our national government and prepare you for completion of your Final Paper in Week Five. To complete the assignment, save the  Week Four Learning Activity Worksheet  to your computer, fill it out, and submit it. Develop a detailed outline of your fourth main point using the Week Four Learning Activity Worksheet. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Elections: Provide a paragraph that briefly describes the one positive impact and one negative impact of one of the following: political parties, interest groups, or federal elections. Provide a paragraph that recommends one option to accentuate the positive impact and one to lessen the negative impact. Thesis Statement: Provide a statement for the Final Paper that identifies the main argument and purpose of the paper. Scholarly Support: (For assistance with your research, the Ashford University’s Library provides tutorials and recorded webinars on a variety of topics. To access these helpful resources look for the links located under the [email protected] search box on the library home page. For help with writing, please review the  APA Style Aid , and Ashford Writing Center’s  Sample Annotated Bibliography  for additional help.) Provide two credible sources in APA format to support your main points. Briefly discuss how these sources support your main points. Briefly evaluate your sources for bias, validity, and reliability. Week Four Learning Activity Worksheet Develop a detailed outline of your fourth main point. (For assistance with your writing skills, refer to the  Ashford Writing Center .) 1. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Elections: Provide a paragraph that briefly describes the one positive impact and one negative impact of one of the following: political parties, interest groups, or elections.  (Use the space below to complete this section.) Provide a paragraph that recommends one option to accentuate the positive impact and one to lessen the negative impact. (Use the space below to complete this section.) 2. Thesis statement: Provide a thesis statement for the final paper that identifies the main argument and purpose of the paper. (Use the space below to complete this section.) Scholarly Support: (For assistance with.

1. Ashford 5: - Week 4 - Learning Activity
Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Elections
The various political actors involved in the processes, activities,
and policies of the U.S. government each have evolving goals
and objectives. In addition, these actors have produced
differential effects, both positive and negative, on the
processes, activities, and policies of the federal government. In
this last weekly worksheet, you will assess the positive and
negative impacts of political parties, interest groups, or federal
elections on the national government. In addition, you will
recommend one option to enhance the positive impact and one
to diminish the negative impact. This final effort will conclude
the process of critically analyzing key features of our national
government and prepare you for completion of your Final Paper
in Week Five.
To complete the assignment, save the
Week Four Learning Activity Worksheet
to your computer, fill it out, and submit it.
Develop a detailed outline of your fourth main point using the
Week Four Learning Activity Worksheet.
Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Elections:
Provide a paragraph that briefly describes the one positive
impact and one negative impact of one of the following:
political parties, interest groups, or federal elections.
Provide a paragraph that recommends one option to accentuate
the positive impact and one to lessen the negative impact.
Thesis Statement:
Provide a statement for the Final Paper that identifies the main
argument and purpose of the paper.
Scholarly Support: (For assistance with your research, the
Ashford University’s Library provides tutorials and recorded
webinars on a variety of topics. To access these helpful
resources look for the links located under the
[email protected]
search box on the library home page. For help with writing,

2. please review the
APA Style Aid
, and Ashford Writing Center’s
Sample Annotated Bibliography
for additional help.)
Provide two credible sources in APA format to support your
main points.
Briefly discuss how these sources support your main points.
Briefly evaluate your sources for bias, validity, and reliability.
Week Four Learning Activity Worksheet
Develop a detailed outline of your fourth main point. (For
assistance with your writing skills, refer to the
Ashford Writing Center
.)
1.
Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Elections:
Provide a paragraph that briefly describes the one positive
impact and one negative impact of one of the following:
political parties, interest groups, or elections.
(Use the space below to complete this section.)
Provide a paragraph that recommends one option to accentuate
the positive impact and one to lessen the negative impact.
(Use the space below to complete this section.)
2.
Thesis statement:
Provide a thesis statement for the final paper that identifies the
main argument and purpose of the paper.
(Use the space below to complete this section.)

3. Scholarly Support: (For assistance with your research, the
Ashford University’s Library provides tutorials and recorded
webinars on a variety of topics. To access these helpful
resources look for the links located under the
[email protected]
search box on the library home page. For help with writing,
please review the
APA Style Aid
, and Ashford Writing Center’s
Sample Annotated Bibliography
for additional help.)
Provide two credible sources in APA format to support your
main points.
(Use the space below to complete this section.)
Briefly discuss how these sources support your main points.
(Use the space below to complete this section.)
Briefly evaluate your sources for bias, validity, and reliability.
(Use the space below to complete this section.)
Ashford 5: - Week 4 (Apr 05 - Apr 11)
Week Four Overview
Resources
Discussions
Quiz
Learning Activity
Required Resources
Text
Levin-Waldman, O. M. (2012).
American government
[Electronic version]. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education,

4. Inc.
Chapter 8: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Chapter 9: Political Parties
Chapter 10: Elections and Public Opinion
Articles
Pew Research Center. (2013, December 3).
Section 4: The threat of terrorism and civil liberties
. In
Public Sees U.S. Power Declining As Support For Global
Engagement Slips
. Retrieved from http://www.people-
press.org/2013/12/03/section-4-the-threat-of-terrorism-and-
civil-liberties/
This website provides data and statistical information
concerning the public’s views on the intersection of terrorism
and civil liberties. This background information highlights some
of the rights U.S. citizens have along with some of the
obligations of the federal government. This website will aid
students in this week’s discussions.
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Pew Research Center. (2014, June 26).
Overview
. In
Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology
. Retrieved from http://www.people-press.org/2014/06/26/the-
political-typology-beyond-red-vs-blue/
This article introduces the Political Typology terms, concepts,
and methods. The additional information will enable students to
expand their insights into their own personal political norms,
beliefs, and values.
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Multimedia
Hinck, T., & Buchanan, C. (Producers). (2013, May 14).
Episode II - It’s a free country

5. [Series episode]. In
Constitution USA with Peter Sagal
. Retrieved from
https://secure.films.com/OnDemandEmbed.aspx?Token=58628&
aid=18596&Plt=FOD&loid=0&w=640&h=480&ref=
This video explores the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights and
how the various branches of government protect and preserve
these rights. The interplay between the branches of government
highlights the various powers that each branch possesses and
utilizes. This video will prepare students for this week’s
discussions.
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Websites
Constitution Party. (2015).
Seven principles
. Retrieved from http://www.constitutionparty.com/our-
principles/seven-principles/
This page presents national policy goals of the Constitution
Party. Scroll down on page to select a specific policy area.
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DNC Services Corporation. (2015).
Our party
. Retrieved from http://www.democrats.org/about/our_party
This page presents national policy goals of the Democratic
Party. Click on the “Issues” tab and select a specific policy
area.
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Privacy Policy
Green Party of the United States. (2015).
The Ten Key Values of the Green Party
. Retrieved from http://www.gp.org/tenkey.php
This page presents national policy goals of the Green Party.
Scroll down on page to select a specific policy area.
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6. Privacy Policy does not exist.
Libertarian Party. (2015).
Issues
. Retrieved from http://www.lp.org/issues
This page presents national policy goals of the Libertarian
Party. Scroll down on page to select a specific policy area.
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Republican National Committee. (2014).
Our party|GOP
. Retrieved from https://gop.com/our-gop/
This page presents national policy goals of the Republican
Party. Scroll down on page to select a specific policy area.
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Supplemental Materials
Ashford University Library (n.d.).
POL201 research guide
. Retrieved from
http://outboundsso.next.ecollege.com/default/launchWithoutCac
he.ed?ssoType=AULibraryEzP&url=http%253A//ashfordonline.l
ibguides.com/POL201
Recommended Resource
Website
Freedom House. (2008).
Today's American: How free?
Retrieved from https://freedomhouse.org/report/special-
reports/todays-american-how-free#.VRl7ght0zm4
This report from Freedom House provides several chapters on
various aspects of politics, freedom, liberty, and rights in
America and if they are being negatively impacted by the war
against terrorism.
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