Unit 4: The Public Policy Process
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In this unit, we will explore questions including:
- How do laws get made?
- How do you find and evaluate information on public issues of interest?
- Which government(s) should respond to a particular public policy issue?
- How does the public policy process work?
- How does the public policy process reflect the purposes, values, and principles of American democracy?
- How do citizens become more involved in working on a public issue or for a political organization?
- What are the roles of the judicial, legislative, and executive branches in the policy making process?
- What do the president and executive branch do?
- How do bills get developed and laws get passed and implemented?
Vocabulary:
public policy, regulation, government action
public policy, regulation, government action
Resources:
General Information about Government:
Ben's Guide to U.S. Government
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/
Constitution:
National Constitution Center
http://constitutioncenter.org/
Local Government:
New York City Council
http://council.nyc.gov/html/home/home.shtml
See issue pages and watch council hearings on webcam.
New York Local Government Handbook
http://www.dos.ny.gov/lg/publications/Local_Government_Handbook.pdf
Bronx Borough President
http://bronxboropres.nyc.gov/
Local Organizations:
New York City Independent Budget Office
http://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/
a publicly funded agency that provides nonpartisan information about New York City's budget to the public and their elected officials
Civitas
http://civitasnyc.org/live/
An organization “Working for Quality in Urban Life” on the Upper East Side and East Harlem
Books for Analyzing Policy Issues:
Participation in Government: Making a Difference, 4th edition (Ketcham et.al.).
Effective Participation in Government: A Guide to Policy Skills (Coplin and O’Leary, 1987).
Public Policy Skills, 3rd edition
Websites for Researching Policy Issues:
National Issues Forum
http://www.nifi.org/index.aspx
Issue books on a variety of domestic issues. Free downloads.
Public Agenda
http://www.publicagenda.org/pages/discussion-starters
ProCon
http://www.procon.org/
a non-profit organization that provides articles about the pros and cons of controversial issues
Intelligence Squared Debates
http://intelligencesquaredus.org/
Intelligence Squared U.S. has presented more than 70 debates on a wide range of provocative and timely topics. Its goals have been to provide a new forum for intelligent discussion, grounded in facts and informed by reasoned analysis. The Rosenkranz Foundation initiated the Intelligence Squared U.S. Debate Series and continues to provide major support.
National Priorities Project
http://nationalpriorities.org/en/
National Priorities Project (NPP) makes our complex federal budget transparent and accessible so people can exercise their right and responsibility to oversee and influence how their tax dollars are spent.
Pew Research Center
http://www.pewresearch.org/
Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Freedom House
http://www.freedomhouse.org/
Freedom House is an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world.
Council on Foreign Relations
http://www.cfr.org/
General Information about Government:
Ben's Guide to U.S. Government
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/
Constitution:
National Constitution Center
http://constitutioncenter.org/
Local Government:
New York City Council
http://council.nyc.gov/html/home/home.shtml
See issue pages and watch council hearings on webcam.
New York Local Government Handbook
http://www.dos.ny.gov/lg/publications/Local_Government_Handbook.pdf
Bronx Borough President
http://bronxboropres.nyc.gov/
Local Organizations:
New York City Independent Budget Office
http://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/
a publicly funded agency that provides nonpartisan information about New York City's budget to the public and their elected officials
Civitas
http://civitasnyc.org/live/
An organization “Working for Quality in Urban Life” on the Upper East Side and East Harlem
Books for Analyzing Policy Issues:
Participation in Government: Making a Difference, 4th edition (Ketcham et.al.).
Effective Participation in Government: A Guide to Policy Skills (Coplin and O’Leary, 1987).
Public Policy Skills, 3rd edition
Websites for Researching Policy Issues:
National Issues Forum
http://www.nifi.org/index.aspx
Issue books on a variety of domestic issues. Free downloads.
Public Agenda
http://www.publicagenda.org/pages/discussion-starters
ProCon
http://www.procon.org/
a non-profit organization that provides articles about the pros and cons of controversial issues
Intelligence Squared Debates
http://intelligencesquaredus.org/
Intelligence Squared U.S. has presented more than 70 debates on a wide range of provocative and timely topics. Its goals have been to provide a new forum for intelligent discussion, grounded in facts and informed by reasoned analysis. The Rosenkranz Foundation initiated the Intelligence Squared U.S. Debate Series and continues to provide major support.
National Priorities Project
http://nationalpriorities.org/en/
National Priorities Project (NPP) makes our complex federal budget transparent and accessible so people can exercise their right and responsibility to oversee and influence how their tax dollars are spent.
Pew Research Center
http://www.pewresearch.org/
Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Freedom House
http://www.freedomhouse.org/
Freedom House is an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world.
Council on Foreign Relations
http://www.cfr.org/