Name________________________________________ Block_________
The Policy Making Process: Use page 60 in your notes
1. What is public policy? __________________________________________________________________
2. What does it mean to influence? ________________________________________________________
3. True or False. The President can influence public policy.
4. True or False. Individuals can influence public policy.
5. True or False. Interest Groups can influence public policy.
6. Lauren contacted her Senator because she has an idea for a new bill, to get rid of standardized testing.
Would this bill start in the House of Representatives or the Senate? ___________________
7. Chris contacted his Representative with an idea for a new bill, to give students access to tablets instead
of textbooks. Put the steps in order for this bill to become a law. Number the steps 1-9.
______ Education bill introduced in the Senate
______ House Education Committee works on bill
______ Representative Wolf introduces the bill
______ President signs bill into law
______ Senate debates on Education bill
______ Senate education committee works on bill
______ Education bill receives 290 votes in the House
______ Education Bill is debated in the House of Representatives
______ Senate passes bill with 51 votes
8. The House of Representatives debates the Education Bill on the floor. What is the next step in the
lawmaking process? ______________________________________________
9. The Healthcare bill has only made it through the lawmaking process in the Senate and
received 55 Senator’s votes. What is the next step in the lawmaking process for this bill?
________________________________________________________________________
Influencing Public Policy: Use pages 62-65 in your notes
10. What is an interest group? ______________________________________
11. What is an individual? __________________________________________
12. What is mass media? ___________________________________________
13. Fill in the blank on the chart below with who would most likely take these actions.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Interest Groups
President
Mass Media
Individuals
Identifying an issue in a TV
Interview
Making a large
political
contributions
?
Hiring a lobbyist to
influence lawmkers
14. Fill in the blank on the chart below with who would most likely take these actions.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Interest Groups
President
Mass Media
Individuals
Focusing public attention on
selected issues
Offering a forum for
opposing viewpoints
?
Holding government
officials accountable
15. Fill in the blank on the chart below with who would most likely take these actions.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Interest Groups
President
Mass Media
Individuals
Participating in Politics
?
Expressing
Opinions
Joining an interest
group
16. Fill in the blank on the chart below with who would most likely take these actions.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Interest Groups
President
Mass Media
Individuals
Propose laws
Approve or veto laws
?
Appeal to the people
President Influences Public Policy: Use page 62 in your notes
17. Due to the influence of mass media and technology, the power of the Presidency has
________________________ (increase/decreased/stayed same) throughout history.
18. Vocabulary Practice:
a. Propose means…_________________________________________________________
b. Appoint means…_________________________________________________________
c. Appealing to people means…_______________________________________________
Word Bank:
A. Proposing Legislation
B. Appointing Officials
C. Appealing to the people
D. Approve or Veto Laws
19. ___The President signed the Healthcare Bill into law.
20. ___The President chose Janet Yellen to be the next head of the Federal Reserve.
21. ___The President spoke in the State of the Union Address to request more Gun Control.
22. ___The President is going on Good Morning America to convince Americans that his new tax plan will
be great for the country.
Mass Media Influences Public Policy: Use page 63 in your notes
23. The Washington Post reported the voting record of Representative Frank Wolf. Which influence on the
public agenda is being shown?
a. Government officials communicating with the public
b. Media focusing on selected issues
c. Offering a forum for opposing viewpoints
d. Holding government officials accountable to the public
24. All major news channels and newspapers were talking about the damage from Typhoon Haiyan in the
Philippines. Which influence on the public agenda is being shown?
a. Government officials communicating with the public
b. Media focusing on selected issues
c. Offering a forum for opposing viewpoints
25. During the government shutdown, Fox News had a democrat and a republican debate to share their
different opinions on the reasons for the shutdown. Which influence on the public agenda is being
shown?
a. Government officials communicating with the public
b. Media focusing on selected issues
c. Offering a forum for opposing viewpoints
d. Holding government officials accountable to the public
26. Which of the following is true of interest groups?
a. It is a group of elected officials
b. It is a group of unelected officials who carry out laws
c. It is an official group of people who have the same opinions on many issues
d. It is an official group of people who have 1 focus and work to influence the government
Individuals and Interest Groups Influence Public Policy: Use page 64 in your notes
27. Antonio works for the National Education Association. He was hired to influence policymakers to
introduce a bill that would raise the salary of all teachers. What is Antonio’s job?
a. Congressman
b. Legislator
c. Senator
d. Lobbyist
28. The National Rifle Association made political contributions to both Republican and Democratic
candidates in the 2013 Governor’s Race in Virginia. What are political contributions?
a. Donating money to a campaign
b. Working for a campaign
c. Voting for a candidate
d. Demonstrating at a political event
29. Individuals express opinions to influence public policy. What does this mean? ____________________
30. Individuals participate in politics to influence public policy. What does this mean? ________________
31. Fill in the blank on the chart below with who would most likely take these actions.
a. Individuals are participating in politics
b. Individuals are expressing their opinions
Demonstrating
?
Write letters
Lobbying
32. Fill in the blank on the chart below with who would most likely take these actions.
Voting
a. Individuals are participating in politics
b. Individuals are expressing their opinions
?
NOW THAT YOU ARE DONE, SEE
YOUR TEACHER TO CHECK YOUR ANSWERS!
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