Public Policy

Assessment

Now​ ​that​ ​you​ ​are​ ​familiar​ ​with​ ​monitoring​ ​and​ ​analyzing​ ​public​ ​policy,​ ​it's​ ​your​ ​turn.​ ​You​ ​will write​ ​a​ ​public​ ​policy​ ​analysis​ ​about​ ​a​ ​state​ ​issue​ ​that​ ​interests​ ​you.

Steps

1. Research​ ​a​ ​current​ ​public​ ​policy​ ​in​ ​the​ ​state​ ​of​ ​Florida,​ ​either​ ​recently​ ​enacted​ ​or​ ​under consideration.​ ​These​ ​​Resources​​ ​will​ ​help​ ​you​ ​begin​ ​your​ ​work.​ ​The​ ​list​ ​below​ ​provides examples​ ​of​ ​popular​ ​public​ ​policy​ ​topics​ ​that​ ​may​ ​help​ ​you​ ​narrow​ ​your​ ​search:

○ ©​ ​2012​ ​Thinkstock​ ​Images/ ○ Comstock/Thinkstock

○ care​ ​of​ ​the​ ​elderly​ ​or​ ​disabled ○ capital​ ​punishment ○ college​ ​tuition​ ​assistance ○ crime ○ crowding​ ​of​ ​jails ○ education ○ environment ○ health​ ​care ○ taxes ○ unemployment ○ wireless​ ​communications

2. Use​ ​this​ ​​Policy​ ​Analysis​ ​Template​​ ​to​ ​write​ ​a​ ​public​ ​policy​ ​analysis.​ ​Be​ ​sure​ ​to​ ​include​ ​the following:

○ an​ ​explanation​ ​of​ ​the​ ​public​ ​policy​ ​idea,​ ​including​ ​text​ ​from​ ​the​ ​bill​ ​itself ○ the​ ​costs​ ​and​ ​benefits​ ​of​ ​the​ ​policy​ ​idea​ ​for​ ​different​ ​groups​ ​of​ ​people ○ your​ ​recommendation​ ​on​ ​the​ ​policy​ ​idea ○ reasons​ ​for​ ​and​ ​evidence​ ​to​ ​support​ ​your​ ​recommendation ○ MLA​ ​citations,​ ​in​ ​​MLA​ ​Format​,​ ​for​ ​your​ ​sources​ ​of​ ​information

You​ ​may​ ​find​ ​it​ ​helpful​ ​to​ ​view​ ​an​ ​example​ ​of​ ​a​ ​public​ ​policy​ ​analysis.​ ​This​ ​​example references​ ​a​ ​law​ ​from​ ​the​ ​1950s.​ ​Remember,​ ​your​ ​public​ ​policy​ ​analysis​ ​should​ ​be​ ​written about​ ​a​ ​current​ ​public​ ​policy.

Policy​ ​Analysis​ ​Template

Your​ ​Name:

Policy​ ​Analysis​ ​of​ ​​(Insert​ ​bill​ ​identifying​ ​code,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​HR702​ ​or​ ​S24,​ ​and​ ​Title)

Your​ ​first​ ​paragraph​ ​should:

● introduce​ ​the​ ​issue​ ​or​ ​problem​ ​the​ ​policy​ ​or​ ​bill​ ​addresses ● explain​ ​the​ ​public​ ​policy​ ​idea,​ ​including​ ​text​ ​from​ ​the​ ​bill ● describe​ ​different​ ​perspectives​ ​on​ ​addressing​ ​the​ ​issue

Your​ ​next​ ​few​ ​paragraphs​ ​should:

● describe​ ​who​ ​or​ ​what​ ​will​ ​be​ ​impacted​ ​by​ ​the​ ​policy​ ​idea​ ​(consider​ ​the​ ​people​ ​who engage​ ​in​ ​the​ ​behavior​ ​targeted​ ​by​ ​the​ ​policy,​ ​law​ ​enforcement​ ​agencies,​ ​businesses​ ​that may​ ​have​ ​to​ ​make​ ​changes​ ​to​ ​comply​ ​with​ ​the​ ​law,​ ​etc.)

● discuss​ ​the​ ​costs​ ​and​ ​benefits​ ​of​ ​the​ ​policy​ ​idea

Your​ ​following​ ​paragraph​ ​should:

● contain​ ​your​ ​recommendation​ ​to​ ​either​ ​support​ ​or​ ​repeal​ ​a​ ​policy​ ​that​ ​already​ ​exists,​ ​or vote​ ​for​ ​or​ ​against​ ​a​ ​policy​ ​idea

● include​ ​as​ ​much​ ​strong​ ​evidence​ ​as​ ​possible,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​facts​ ​and​ ​data​ ​that​ ​you​ ​can​ ​find​ ​to support​ ​your​ ​position

Be​ ​sure​ ​to​ ​include​ ​MLA-style​ ​citations​ ​for​ ​your​ ​sources​ ​of​ ​information.