1. Visit the website that is designed to provide more transparency to the earmark process. Does it give you the information you need to understand current earmarks?
2. Where do you draw the line? What limits should be placed on earmarks? Does your attitude toward earmarks vary with the extent to which you agree with the causes the earmark is promoting?
3. Do you agree with Representative Emanuel? What, if any, public policy recommendations would you make?
4. From an ethics perspective, how do earmarks compare with general lobbying? What, if any, differences do you see? Is it ethical for businesses to lobby in a quest to get earmarks?

According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), there is no formal definition of earmarks. In fact, there is no informal definition upon which people generally agree. The CRS defines earmarks broadly as “provisions associated with legislation (appropriations or general legislation) that specify certain congressional spending priorities or in revenue bills that apply to a very limited number of individuals or entities. Earmarks may appear in either the legislative text or report language (committee reports accompanying reported bills and joint explanatory statement accompanying a conference report.” A key aspect of the definitions of earmarks in the Senate Reform proposals reviewed by CRS is the specification of the identity of the recipient of the assistance.