Public Policy
Introduction: Introduce the issue and state why it is important to discuss. Who is affected and to what degree?
Define the Problem: Describe the public policy issues: State the proposed law, policy, issue, problem, concern.
What is the issue? What is the issue’s history? How has it changed over time and who is currently affected?
How is it perceived by those involved: legislators, clients, planners, program administrators, line staff, parents,
caregivers, etc.. Examine a range of viewpoints on the issue.
**You should be able to clearly state the problem in 1-2 sentences and the proposed Public Policy change in 1-
2 sentences. Be able to point to those sentences. If someone only read that, they would understand what you
are proposing.**
Assemble Some Evidence: What evidence will you use to convince a policy maker that this is a problem and
that your solution will work? Identify 2-3 public policies which could address your issue. What evidence is there
to support or reject each alternative? Explain why those options have been proposed to address the identified
issue. Using actual evidence is best here, but you can also list what evidence you would use if none is
available.
Construct the Alternatives: Compare the relative merits of competing public policies that have been identified to
address the issue (the 2-3alternatives that you came up with above). What other potential policies have been
proposed to address the issue?
Sample Solution
Public Policy
Violence is frequently the lead story on the evening news. Consider the issue of gun control. This issue is clearly rich in content, drawing as it does upon history, economics, political science, sociology, law, government, and cultural anthropology among other disciplines. The issue of gun control is as much about controquot; as it is about “guns.” It is not simply a question of liking or disliking guns. Nor is it simply about liking or not liking control. It is-or should be about judging the effectiveness of control, and particularly of government control as exercised through regulation. Recent federal policy in this area is marked by the Gun Control Act of 1968, which was passed largely in response to public outrage over the assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy, and the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Firearm homicide disproportionately impacts African American communities, particularly young black men.
