Topic 2, Lesson 1 and 2: Your Role and Public Policy

Topic 2, Lesson 1 and 2: Your Role and Being a Public Policy Influencer!

Directions: Record the Main Takeaways in your notes and any other information you consider vital. Be prepared to respond to prompts and multiple choice question throughout lesson. Rewards will be given.

​Lesson Essential Q.

REVIEW TOPIC 1: Why is it important to be involved in your community?

LESSON 1: What is your role in society?

LESSON 2: How can you make your voice heard and effect public policy?

How can you participate in your community?

Unit Essential Q.

Essential Questions

Key Vocabulary

• Law

• Rule of Law

• civic engagement

• active citizenship

• appoint

• public policy

• issue

• interest group

• grassroots movement

• lobbyist

• political party

• petition

​The Common Good and Active Citizenship

• The Common Good

  • Describe the meaning. Discuss examples of how you can benefit the common good in your community.

• Staying Informed!

  • Why should you? How can you? What can you do with the knowledge?

Rule of Law

Life without the rule of law Describe characteristics of countries of follow "Rule of Law".
The importance of Rule of Law : Why is the Rule of Law so vital in the United States?
Due Process What is it? Why do you have it?
Impact of Rule of Law How do we make sure that Rule of Law stays strong?

MAIN TAKEAWAYS

• The Common Good implies what is best for the community as a whole. The US and any republic relies on its' citizens to be active in government and their communities.

• Being an active citizen requires you to be informed. Once you are aware of issues or events, you can participate and make a difference.

• Rule of Law implies that everyone is accountable to the law. Nobody is above the law. Rule of Law, also, protects the people from an abusive government (Due Process).

• To ensure Rule of Law is strong, government must be transparent thus allowing the people and other groups to monitor government.

Explanation Slide...

Attending a city council meeting is an example of civic engagement in a local community. It allows individuals to participate in decision-making processes and voice their concerns directly to local government officials.

Multiple Choice

Ava, Aria, and Luna are discussing ways to get involved in their local community. Which action discussed by them is the best example of civic engagement in their local community?

• Donating to an international charity

• Attending a city council meeting

• Watching a documentary on global issues

• Reading a book on political theory

Explanation Slide...

Recycling and conserving water aligns with personally responsible citizenship as it promotes environmental sustainability and resource conservation.

Multiple Choice

Avery, Harper, and Samuel are discussing their roles as citizens. Which activity, if performed by Harper, would align with the concept of personally responsible citizenship?

• Harper running for political office

• Harper recycling and conserving water at home

• Harper leading a public demonstration

• Harper writing an opinion piece for a newspaper

Explanation Slide...

Citizens can engage in social activism by participating in a boycott to support a cause.

Multiple Choice

Abigail, Jackson, and Olivia are discussing ways to engage in social activism. Jackson suggests they should always agree with government policies, Olivia thinks they should participate in a boycott to support a cause, and Abigail believes they should avoid discussions on controversial issues. Who is suggesting the most effective method of social activism?

• Abigail, who suggests always agreeing with government policies

• Olivia, who suggests participating in a boycott to support a cause

• Jackson, who suggests avoiding discussions on controversial issues

• None of them

Explanation Slide...

A key responsibility of a personally responsible citizen is making decisions that benefit society.

Multiple Choice

Mason, Benjamin, and Rohan went to the grocery store. What is a key responsibility of a personally responsible citizen that they demonstrated?

• Organizing community protests

• Bringing reusable bags to the grocery store to reduce waste

• Advocating for policy changes

• Creating art for social awareness

Multiple Choice

What does it mean to be an active citizen?

• Doing nothing because you can only do a little

• Engaging in building the nation

• Being an armchair critic on social media

• Participating in political structures

Multiple Choice

What is the importance of knowing your neighbors and community?

• To criticize social constructs

• To build a sense of us and understand shared challenges

• To protest and demand attention

• To log complaints on social media

Multiple Choice

Define common good

• the belief that people should work for changes that benefit all
• a school at which students live, away from their familes 
• the right to vote
• unfair treatment of people based on race, gender, or religion

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of public safety?

• The right of people to do or say things that are not illegal without being stopped by the government

• Measure to protect people and ensure their well-being

• Demanding that people obey the rules or behave in a certain way

• Allowing a lot of freedom and not punishing bad behavior in a strong way

Multiple Choice

Now that Michael is 18, what can he do about these problems that he could

NOT do before he was 18?

• speak at public meetings and visit the capital of his state

• join other community members at a public protest in front of city hall

• register to vote and vote for people who listen to members of the community

• send emails to city workers known for listening to members of the community

​What is Public Policy

• What are the three levels of government?

• What is public policy?

• How do we know who to contact concerning an issue we may have?

​Impacting and Influencing Government

• The Media What is the media? What role do they play in monitoring the government?

• Individuals What role do you play in impacting government?

• Interest groups What are they? What is a PAC? What are some examples of Interest Groups? How can they influence government? What is a lobbyist?

• Grassroots Movement: "bottom up" efforts starting at the local level to impact change.

• Political Parties: What is a political party? What are the two major parties? What is a third party? How do political parties impact government?

MAIN TAKEAWAYS

• Public Policy is the action taken do correct issues in society often in the form of laws. When trying to change public policy, you must contact the appropriate level of government (Federal, State, or Local)

• Government is impacted and influenced by many groups: Individuals, Interest Groups, Political Parties, Grassroot Movements, and the Media.

• The Media is the watchdog of the government. They hold the government accountable.

• Interest groups promote a specific cause and hire lobbyist to go before Congress and fight for certain public policy. Candidates can gain support of Interest groups by promoting their interests.

• Individuals can impact government by being informed, running for office, voting, etc.

• Political Parties run candidates for office. Third parties can highlight specific causes.

Multiple Choice

Which example below shows the media working as a "watchdog"?

• A reporter shares a story about former President Obama riding a jetski.

• A news agency reports a story about the government stealing money from citizens

• The nightly news does a story on how much money it costs to run for president

• The news does a story on why Democrats and Republicans sometimes dont agree with each other.

Multiple Choice

Who influences government?

• Individuals

• Interest Groups

• The media

• All of these

Multiple Choice

What is one way that an individual can MONITOR government?

• staying informed

• voting in elections

• lobbying Congress

• None of these

Multiple Choice

Are interest groups BIASED towards their members and the issues they represent?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

The main goal of an interest group is to:

• monitor public policy

• influence public policy

• run for office

• donate to a campaign

Multiple Choice

Media can

• monitor goverment

• influence goverment

• both monitor and influence government

• None of these

Multiple Choice

The media serves as a _________________ by exposing scandals and problems in the government and "bark" to warn us.

• watchmen

• watch tower

• watch dog

• Apple watch

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a RESPONSIBILITY that individuals can use to impact government?

• paying taxes

• running for office

• voting

• petitioning the government

Multiple Choice

Which constitutional protection in the 1^st Amendment allows the media to operate in their role as a watchdog and report on government issues?

• Freedom of religion

• Freedom of assembly

• Freedom of petition

• Freedom of press

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a method interest groups use to impact government?

• Use their role as a watchdog

• contribute money to political campaigns

• complete community service

• Use their role as a gatekeeper

Multiple Choice

What do we call government actions in the form of laws, rules, or regulations?

• Lobbyist

• Interest Groups

• Bias

• Public Policy

Multiple Choice

What do we call individuals who are hired by interest groups in order to influence government officials on their behalf?

• Media

• Nonprofit Organization

• Lobbyist

• Gatekeeper