Public Policy

What does brushing your teeth, having a bank account, and saving the endangered Northern Goshawk have in common? They’re all affected by public policy! In this unit, students learn what public policy is and who creates, implements, and influences it. Through case studies, scenarios, and possible role-playing, students discover how difficult it is to create a public policy that meets the needs of the majority and the level of compromise needed for its adoption.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Defense Education Program (NDEP) for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education, Outreach, and Workforce Initiative Programs under Grant No. HQ0034-21-S-F001. The views expressed in written materials or publications, and/or made by speakers, moderators, and presenters, do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Defense nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Lesson Plan

Public Policy 101

This country’s got problems! And that’s why the government creates public policy to try and resolve them. What is public policy? In this lesson, students explore various types of public policy, including social and economic regulations, the provision of public services, and funding for government programs. Students also discover how public policy affects their everyday lives.
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Game

Counties Work

Running a county is a lot of work! Manage things well, and try to get re-elected.
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Lesson Plan

The Public in Public Policy

Can a person really influence public policy? Yes, and in multiple ways. In this lesson, students discover who and how different groups influence public policy. With a case study that can be adapted to a role-play, students are guided to see how legislators must balance the competing needs of various groups and find a way to compromise to a solution.
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Lesson Plan

Policy Promotion: Politicians and the Media

Politicians are everywhere—talk shows, radio, news reports, and social media. But why are they there? In this mini-lesson, students explore how elected officials use the mass media to promote their ideas about public policy and generate the public’s support for it.
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Lesson Plan

Managing the Media

How much influence does the media have on the public’s perception of current issues? In this mini-lesson, students explore where news and information come from and how the media can shape people’s public policy views. Students also compare news coverage among conservative, liberal, and neutral media outlets.
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Lesson Plan

Leveling Public Policy

Why does it take so long for a public policy to be enacted? In this lesson, students take a deep dive into the six steps involved in creating public policy and the obstacles legislators may face when trying to get it passed. Students review a case study and policy-making scenarios to learn about stakeholders and practice viewing issues and their solutions from multiple viewpoints.
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Lesson Plan

Putting Policy into Action

We know that the legislative branch makes policy and that the chief executive signs it into law. But what happens next? In this lesson, students take a deep dive into how public policy is enforced by exploring the role of government agencies, the powers they have, and why they are entrusted with enforcing policy.
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Lesson Plan

Public Policy Research Guide

Are your students researching a public policy? Help them through the process with this graphic organizer. It guides students through narrowing down a topic, answering questions through research, finding positive and negative views of the policy, and analyzing its effectiveness. The guide is designed to help students present what they’ve learned in a written paper, oral presentation, or class debate.
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Game

LawCraft

Jump into the law making process of Congress.
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Game

Counties Work

Running a county is a lot of work! Manage things well, and try to get re-elected.
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