Unsatisfactory

1

Poor

2

Fair

3

Above Average

4

Excellent

5

Score

Name at least three things that influence an individual’s personal opinion about political events.

The student names only one thing that influences his or her personal opinion about political events.

The student names only two things that influence his or her personal opinion about political events.

The student names three things that influence his or her personal opinion about political events.

The student names more than three things that influence his or her personal opinion about political events.

The student names more than three things that influence his or her personal opinion about political events and cites examples of when he or she has been influenced.

Identify at least three things that influence representatives’ opinions.

The student identifies only one thing that influences representatives’ opinions.

The student identifies only two things that influence representatives’ opinions.

The student identifies three things that influence representatives’ opinions.

The student names more than three things that influence representatives’ opinions.

The student identifies more than three things that influence representatives’ opinions and cites examples of when an outside factor influenced a representative.

Define the term interest group.

The student attempts to define the term interest group , but does not do so correctly.

The students gives an example of an interest group but cannot explain what an interest group is.

The student correctly defines the term interest group .

The student correctly defines the term interest group and names some interest groups.

The student correctly defines the term interest group , names some interest groups, and explains what issues the interest groups are concerned with.

Identify at least three interest groups that people in the local community belong to.

The student identifies only one interest group that people in the local community belong to.

The student identifies only two interest groups that people in the local community belong to.

The student identifies three interest groups that people in the local community belong to.

The student identifies more than three interest groups that people in the local community belong to.

The student identifies more than three interest groups that people in the local community belong to and explains what issues the interest groups are concerned with.

Contact an interest group and evaluate the impact of that group on the political process.

The student names an interest group but does not contact the group or evaluate the impact of the interest group on the political process.

The student contacts an interest group but does not evaluate the impact of that group on the political process.

The student contacts an interest group, identifies what issues that group is concerned with, explains what the group does to influence legislators, and describes the impact the group has had on the political process.

The student contacts an interest group, identifies what issues that group is concerned with, explains what the group does to influence legislators, cites one example of how the group has influenced politics in the past, and explains the possible impact the group may have in the future.

The student contacts an interest group, identifies what issues that group is concerned with, explains what the group does to influence legislators, cites one example of how the group has influenced politics in the past, explains the possible impact the group may have in the future, explains why the group has or has not been influential, and offers suggestions on what the group can do to become more influential.

Unsatisfactory

1

Poor

2

Fair

3

Above Average

4

Excellent

5

Score

Identify some influences that affect how a Member of Congress decides to vote on a bill.

The student identifies only one thing that may influence how a Member of Congress decides to vote on a bill.

The student identifies only two things that may influence how a Member of Congress decides to vote on a bill.

The student identifies three influences that affect how a Member of Congress decides to vote on a bill.

The student identifies more than three influences that affect how a Member of Congress decides to vote on a bill.

The student identifies more than three influences that affect how a Member of Congress decides to vote on a bill and cites an example of when a Member has been influenced.

Determine how the student’s representatives voted on a specific bill and identify the influences that affected how the representatives voted.

The student does not know how to determine how his or her representatives voted on a specific bill and therefore cannot identify the influences that affected how the representatives voted.

The student can determine how his or her representatives voted on a specific bill — or the student identifies the influences that affected how the representatives voted, but does not do both.

The student determines how his or her representatives voted on a specific bill and identifies the influences that affected how the representatives voted.

The student identifies and describes a specific bill, determines how his or her representatives voted on this bill, identifies two influences that affected how the representatives voted, and explains how they were influenced.

The student identifies and describes a specific bill, determines how his or her representatives voted on this bill, identifies three or more influences that affected how the representatives voted, and explains how they were influenced.

Explain the role of the media in government.

The student cannot explain the role of the media in government.

The student attempts to but does not correctly explain the role of the media in government.

The student explains the role of the media in government.

The student explains the role of the media in government and cites an example of when the media has influenced politicians’ decision making.

The student explains the role of the media in government, cites an example of when the media has influenced politicians’ decision making, and discusses whether or not the media has too much influence.

Define the term political party.

Th e student incorrectly defines the term political party .

The student gives an example of a political party but cannot explain what a political party is.

The student defines the term political party.

The student defines the term political party and names and describes some political parties.

The student defines the term political party, names and describes some political parties, and discusses the role of political parties in American politics.

Explain the role of political parties.

The student incorrectly explains the role of political parties.

The student gives an example of a political party but cannot explain the role of political parties.

The student explains the role of political parties.

The student describes the role of political parties and explains why they are important.

The student describes the role of political parties, explains why they are important, and gives examples of times when political parties have made a difference.

Describe ways that individuals and groups influence legislators.

The student cannot describe ways that individuals and groups influence legislators.

The student describes only one way that individuals and groups influence legislators.

The student describes at least three ways that individuals and groups influence legislators.

The student describes more than three ways that individuals and groups influence legislators and identifies some individuals and groups that have influenced legislators.

The student describes more than three ways that individuals and groups influence legislators, identifies some individuals and groups that have influenced legislators, and explains how these individuals and groups influenced legislators.