Influence Insider Teacher Guide Influence Insider
Teacher Facilitation Guide: Money in Politics
45-50 MIN LESSON
Lesson Objectives
Analyze the historical origins and modern definition of lobbying .
Evaluate the ethical implications of Political Action Committees (PACs) and Astroturfing .
Investigate local congressional funding using digital research tools (OpenSecrets.org).
Required Materials
Laptops/Tablets for all students
"Paper Trail" Student Worksheet
"Dollar Democracy" Slide Deck
Internet Access (OpenSecrets.org)
Vocabulary Bank
Lobbying
Legally attempting to influence government decisions.
Conflict of Interest
Serving one interest (donors) while working against another (voters).
PAC
Tax-exempt groups that pool money to donate to campaigns.
Astroturfing
Faking a grassroots movement to hide corporate backing.
Lesson Pacing
5 MIN
Warm-up: The Ethics of Giving
Students respond to the Quick Write prompt on their worksheets: "Should there be a limit on how much money a person or company can give to a politician?" Briefly share a few perspectives to gauge class sentiment.
15 MIN
Video Viewing: Lobbying Defined
Play the video: "Lobbying - How Interest Groups Influence Government." Instruct students to complete the Guided Notes section on their worksheet.
Crucial Stop: Pause at 9:13 to discuss the $29 million PAC statistic from the 2018 election.
20 MIN
Activity: Follow the Money Research
Students use laptops to access OpenSecrets.org . They must find their local Representative or Senator and complete the "Donor Profile" table. Encourage them to look for patterns: Are these mostly individuals, PACs, or Unions?
5 MIN
Closure: The Surprise Factor
Whip-around: Students share one donor name that surprised them. Ask: "Why might this specific group want to influence our representative?"
Research Facilitation Tips
How to use OpenSecrets.org
Go to opensecrets.org
Hover over "Politicians & Elections" in the top menu.
Select "Congressional Elections" or use the search bar for a name.
Enter zip code or state to find local members.
Click on a politician's profile, then select the "Contributors" tab.
Common Misconceptions
"Donors" ≠ Bribes: Remind students that these are legal contributions, though they can create "Conflicts of Interest."PAC vs. Candidate: PACs are separate entities from the candidate's personal bank account.Top Donors: Usually listed by the organization whose employees/PAC gave the most, not necessarily the organization's corporate treasury directly.
Discussion Anchors (based on video)
Timestamp 2:15: Should officials accept gifts?
Focus: The line between "building relationships" and "buying access."
Timestamp 5:33: Is lobbying just legalized bribery?
Focus: Legal vs. Ethical. Why is it protected by the First Amendment (right to petition)?
Timestamp 7:58: Should astroturfing be illegal?
Focus: Transparency. Does faking grassroots support violate the spirit of democracy?
Paper Trail Student Worksheet Paper Trail
Money, Lobbying, and Political Influence
NAME:
DATE:
Quick Write: The Price of Politics
Should there be a limit on how much money a person or company can give to a politician? Why or why not?
Video Insight: Lobbying & Influence
Definition: Lobbying
Origin Story (Ulysses S. Grant)
Types of Influence Groups
PACs
Political Action Committees
Watchdog Groups
Non-profit Oversight
Astroturfers
Fake Grassroots
The 2018 Statistic
In 2018, PACs donated more than $__________ million to candidates. Do you think this level of spending should be legal?
Activity: Follow the Money
SOURCE: OPENSECRETS.ORG
TASK: Research your local US Representative or Senator. Investigate who is funding their campaign and determine what interests they might be representing.
Representative / Senator Name
State / District
Political Party
Total Raised (Current Cycle)
Top Donor Profile
Organization Name Amount Classification $ Union Corp SIG $ Union Corp SIG $ Union Corp SIG $ Union Corp SIG $ Union Corp SIG
*SIG = Special Interest Group (e.g., Gun Rights, Environment, Civil Rights)
Surprise Factor
Identify one donor from your list that surprised you. Based on the video, why might this group be trying to influence this politician?
Dollar Democracy Presentation Slides Civics & Government
Dollar Democracy
Analyzing Money, Influence, and the Fight for Political Voice
Grades 9-12
45-50 Min
Quick Write
"Should there be a limit on how much money a person or company can give to a politician?"
Consider
Freedom of Speech vs. Equal Voice
Think
Who has the most influence?
Action
Jot down 2-3 sentences on your worksheet.
Watch: Lobbying & Influence
Video Viewing
Embedded media
Focus Questions
How did lobbying get its name?
What is a PAC?
What is Astroturfing?
The Power of PACs
$29,000,000+
donated by PACs in the 2018 Elections
"Do you think PACs should be legal? Or do they give too much power to special interest groups?"
Activity: Follow the Money
It's time to be a political detective. Use OpenSecrets.org to investigate who is funding your local representative.
1
Search your Representative's Name
2
Click the "Contributors" Tab
3
Identify the Top 5 Donors
OpenSecrets.org
The premier research tool for tracking money in U.S. politics.
Final Thought
"Do politicians serve the constituents who elected them, or the donors who funded them?"
Exit Prompt
What was the most surprising donor you found today?
Be prepared to share with the class!
