Influencing Public Policy

Public policy is the -

• process for selecting the president and vice president

• system of allowing one branch to check the other two

• course of action the government takes to solve a problem

• procedures for removing a federal judge

Government works to solve problems through -

• action

• taxes

• executive acts

• regulations

Which of the following are examples of regulations?

• Farmers may not use certain dangerous pesticides on their crops

• A town pays for children to have free vaccinations

• Stores may not sell alcoholic beverages to people under the age of 21

• Children under the age of 16 must attend school

A source of news information that is widely distributed is called -

• media

• jurisdiction

• regulation

• policy

Letters to the editor of a newspaper influence public policy by -

• reporting the facts of a story without bais

• offering a forum for expressing opposing viewpoints

• lobbying government officials

• providing a way for people to volunteer

When a newspaper publishes the voting record of members of Congress, it is -

• focusing public attention on a selected issue

• offering a forum for expressing opposing views

• holding government officials accountable

• providing a way for citizens to participate in the political process

State officials are debating if Virginia should start off-shore drilling. What can a citizen do to get elected officials to respond to his/her wishes about this issue?

• Write letters to public officials

• Gather data

• Propose legislation

• Regulate business

An organization of people with a common interest who try to influence government is called a/an -

• Electoral College

• magistrate

• media

• interest group

Running for office is one way citizens can -

• make donations to an interest group

• offer a forum for expressing opposing viewpoints

• gather data to draw attention to issues

• participate in politics to influence public policy

"The proposed dam will harm wildlife habits down stream." The interest group that made this statement is trying to influence public policy by -

• making political contributions

• representing a specfic industry

• leading a demonstration

• identifying an issue