National Government: Shaping Public Policy
Session 4: Ways to Influence Public Policy

Materials

• Chalkboard and Internet access     

Instructional Activities

NOTE: The following Web sites will help students gather information on groups who influence public policy:
<http://www.rnc.org/>
<http://www.democrats.org/>
<http://www.politics1.com/parties.htm>
<http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/mediahistory.html>
<http://www.mediaresearch.org/videobias/vidbias.asp>
<http://www.dontpardonbigtobacco.org/>
<http://www.protectmasskids.org/>
<http://www.grrn.org/>
<http://www.grassrootsonline.org/>
<http://www.grass-roots.org/>

1. Write the definition of public policy on the board (see definition below), and have students copy it down.
   
   Public policy: the action the government takes to address an issue, solve a problem, or meet the needs and wishes of the citizens
   
   
2. Introduce the different groups involved in the formation of public policy: political leaders, interest groups, the media, and citizens. Ask students to identify how these groups shape the policy agenda. Explain the term policy agenda.
   
   
3. Put students into teams of two or three. Assign one of the following groups to each team:
   •    Republicans
   •    Democrats
   •    Any third party of the group’s choosing (assign different third parties to two or three groups)
   •    Interest groups
   •    Media
   •    Individual citizens
   
   
4. Direct teams to research how their group used each of the ways listed below to shape public policy. Use the Internet sites listed in the Note above.
   •    Attending political and governmental meetings
   •    Lobbying
   •    Working in campaigns
   •    Contributing money to candidates and funding causes
   •    Organizing public opinion
   •    Filing a legal challenge
   •    Petitioning government
   •    Demonstrating
   •    Running for office
   
   
5. Conduct a follow-up discussion about the ways groups and individuals shape public policy. Ask the students if they discovered other ways of shaping public policy that were not on their list?
   
   
6. Ask the students to think about the following for homework: Could each of the groups you researched implement the policies they want passed by themselves?