National Government: Shaping Public Policy

Standard(s) of Learning

Content

Using the following information, analyze how individuals have different opinions about the role of government in shaping public policy.                                                                                    

Differences of opinion about the role of government are due primarily to ideology.                  

An ideology is a set of basic beliefs about life, culture, government, and society. A person's ideology provides a framework for looking at government and public policy. Ideology is shaped by many factors including family, education, religion, socio-economic status, race and ethnicity, gender, and region. Traditionally, American political perspective falls into two broad categories of opinion:
•    Conservative—Generally believes that the role of government should be limited and that freedom of opportunity should be promoted                                                                                 
•    Liberal—Generally believes that the role of government should be active and that economic equality should be promoted                                                                                          

Explain that individuals may not always be consistent in their opinions about public policy (e.g., a person may hold conservative views about the economy and liberal views about society).                  

Explain that public policy is the action the government takes to address an issue, solve a problem, or meet the needs and wishes of the citizens.                                                                           

Explain that public policy is shaped by the interaction of the participants in the policy process with the policy agenda.

Explain that participants in the policy process include political leaders, interest groups, the media, and individual citizens.                                                                                                               

Explain that these participants shape the policy agenda and develop public policy by:
•    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                                                                                                        

Explain that public policy is primarily implemented by bureaucracies at the national, state, and local levels.                                                                                                                                

Using the following information, explain how at all levels of government, bureaucracies conduct the day-to-day operation of government and carry out public policy.
•    Bureaucracies shape the meaning of laws passed by legislatures through rule-making and help to draft new bills for lawmakers.                                                                                       
•    Some bureaucrats shape policy by providing information and advice to the executive branches of government.                                                                                                                 

Identify levels of bureaucracy:
•    National
–    Cabinet department                                                                                                
–    Office of the President                                                                                           
•    Federal agencies Virginia
–    Cabinet departments                                                                                               
–    Office of the Governor                                                                                           
–    State agencies                                                                                                        
•    Local
–    County/city agencies                                                                                               
–    Regional authorities                                                                                                
                                            

Sample Resources

Below is an annotated list of Internet resources for this organizing topic. Copyright restrictions may exist for the material on some Web sites. Please note and abide by any such restrictions.  Note also that many of these are political sites and therefore represent particular viewpoints rather than neutral ones.

Democratic National Committee. <http://www.democrats.org/>. This site offers news and opinions about regional, national, and international issues from the perspective of the Democratic Party.

“Directory of U.S. Political Parties.” <http://www.politics1.com/parties.htm>. This site contains information on the two major political parties and a large variety of third parties in the United States.

FedWorld.gov. <http://www.fedworld.gov/>. This site, a program of the U.S. Department of Commerce, allows users to locate government information and link to many Web sites.

FirstGov.Gov. <http://www.firstgov.gov/>. The United States Government’s Official Web Portal allows users to search for information on a variety of offices and services.

Government Accounting Office. <http://www.gao.gov/>. This site provides information regarding the auditing, evaluation, and investigation of government programs and offices.

Grassroots International. <http://www.grassrootsonline.org/>. The purpose of this organization is to promote justice throughout the world.

Grassroots Recycling Network. <http://www.grrn.org/>. The site promotes recycling and other environmental protections.

@Grass-Roots.org. <http://www.grass-roots.org/>. This site tells the stories of some of the nation’s most successful grassroots programs.

“Media Bias Videos.” <http://www.mediaresearch.org/videobias/vidbias.asp>. This site contains the Media Research Center’s collection of media bias caught on tape.

“NOW with Bill Moyers.”  <http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/mediahistory.html> This site presents milestones in the history of media and politics.

“The Political Quiz Show.”USA Weekend. <http://madrabbit.net/webrabbit/quizshow.html>. This site contains an online quiz that, when completed, suggests whether the individual completing the quiz is more liberal or conservative.

The World’s Shortest Political Quiz < http://www.self-gov.org/quiz.html>.  Another quiz that ranks people related to their political leanings.

Republican National Committee.  <http://www.rnc.org>. This site offers news and opinions about regional, national, and international issues from the perspective of the Republican Party.

Virginia Information Providers Network. <http://www.vipnet.org/>.  This site functions as a portal for services of and information on Virginia’s government.