Four Corners – Lobbying

Educator Toolkit: Peoples Guide to the Federal Budget

Activity Type: Group
Chapter: 4
Objective: Students will form and defend an opinion on lobbying and will be able to articulate the current debate surrounding lobbying.
Description:

A Four Corners activity is generally used as a discussion starter.

Print the four following statements and post one in each corner of the classroom:

Strongly Agree
Simply Agree
Strongly Disagree
Simply Disagree

The teacher or a student leader will read a posted statement to the class (see below).
After the statement is read, all students will move to one of the four corners of the room based on their reaction and opinion. No one may stand in the middle; everyone must take a position. Students should be given no more than 30 seconds to make their decision.
Once all students are in a corner, the teacher or student leader asks students (some or all) why they chose their position. Only one student at a time may speak. After everyone speaks, the teacher or student leader asks if anyone wants to change position.
Discussion follows if students change corners.

Statements:

Lobbying by citizens is essential for democracy.
Lobbying by paid lobbyists is essential for democracy.
All organizations have a right to lobby Congress.
Lobbying is equivalent to bullying Congress.

Extension Activity: For one week students will search newspapers (local, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post) for an article on lobbying. When students find an article, they will orally summarize the article for their class.

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