Bureaucracy Assignment

Proposed rules are printed in the Federal Register, and comments from the public are generally invited. After receiving comments and either heeding or ignoring them, the final rule is published several months later.

First, watch this short video about the Federal Register.

Next, go to the online version of the Federal Register: http://www.federalregister.gov/

Look at a rule issued this week about safety standards for high chairs: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/11/09/2015-28300/safety-standard-for-high-chairs

For such a seemingly simple topic, it's a huge rule. I don't expect you to read the whole thing, but read the executive summary, and browse through a little so you know what it's about.

The purpose of publishing rules like this in the Federal Register is so that the public can have input. For your assignment this week, prepare a 2  page comment on the proposed rule.

Submit in Word. Cite your sources.

Additional Resources

There's no special format for commenting on a federal rule, but this website has some hints about doing it: http://www.foreffectivegov.org/node/4059

The Hill News covers this issue: http://thehill.com/regulation/259389-feds-pushing-safety-regs-for-high-chairs