Interest group influence

Scenario: 

A city council member has just received a call from a local plumber’s union asking him to support local adoption of the International Code Council’s (ICC) 2009 Model Building Code requirements for residential fire sprinkler systems. The council member has no previous experience with building code adoption.   As an officer the fire department, he knows that you will understand the process, the players, and what impact adopting or not adopting the provisions might have on fire department policies and procedures.   He has asked you to prepare a report to help him identify the organizations that may influence the local adoption debate, and how they might assert that influence.

Understanding Legislative, Political and Interest Group Influence

Read the scenario and observe the following:

1. Make a list of organizations likely to have a role in local decisions about the residential sprinkler provisions, classifying each as “Decision Maker” or “Policy Shaper.” Consider political, legislative, and interest groups at the national, state, and local level. Identify at least one “Decision Maker” and four “Policy Shapers.” Include the fire department!
2. Complete Political Influence Worksheet for each organization identified in part one, based on the “Decision Maker” or “Policy Shaper” classification assigned to them. If you believe that an organization served in both roles, you may complete a separate worksheet for each role.
3. Prepare a brief report for the council member in which you provide the following:
   1. An introduction (not to exceed 1.5 pages) that identifies the broad requirements of the ICC’s residential sprinkler provisions, the ICC’s goals in including these requirements, and the history of controversy surrounding these code provisions.
   1. A copy of the Political Influence Worksheet(s) for each organization you identified.
   1. A “Fire Department Impact” narrative (2 to 3 pages) pages, presenting a broad overview of the impact that adoption (or non-adoption) of the provisions for residential sprinklers might have on fire department policies or procedures. Do not write a policy or procedure. Instead, identify the potential policies or procedures to be adopted or revised based on any local decisions regarding these sprinkler code provisions. Include perceived implications of each potential policy or procedural change (financial, public relations, employee relations, etc.). Remember this is an impact statement that will be submitted to the commissioner.
4. Summarize and conclude your project with a discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing this process for decision-making when the 

This Assignment will require you to submit multiple items in one file: Your report, plus at least 5 worksheets. You should add each of the worksheets within the report file. For assistance with this process, review directions on how to insert a document in Word.