Unit 3 Public Policy

Part 1: Understanding Public and Private Goods “In the previous unit, you learned about the organization of government and you experienced the legislative process. In this unit, we will explore the functions or outputs of U.S. Government by examining public policy. We will begin by defining public policy.”

Definition for Public Policy: The broad strategy government uses to do its job; the relatively stable set of purposive governmental behaviors that address matters of concern to some part of society.

Public Policy: Public policy is a guide to legislative action that is more or less fixed for long periods of time, not just short-term fixes or single legislative acts. Policy also doesn’t happen by accident, and it is rarely formed simply as the result of the campaign promises of a single elected official, even the president. While elected officials are often important in shaping policy, most policy outcomes are the result of considerable debate, compromise, and refinement that happen over years and are finalized only after input from multiple institutions within government as well as from interest groups and the public

Unit Vocabulary Public goods/Services - May be consumed without reducing the amount available for others, and cannot be withheld from those who do not pay for it. Public goods (and services) law enforcement, national defense, parks, and other things for the use and benefit of all. Private goods/Services - A product that must be purchased to be consumed, and consumption by one individual prevents another individual from consuming it. Economists refer to private goods as rivalrous and excludable.

Unit Vocabulary Sales Tax - A tax on sales or on the receipts from sales Excise Tax - Taxation imposed on the manufacture, sale or use of certain types of goods and products. Income Tax - Tax levied by a government directly on income Social Security/Medicare Tax - the tax levied on both employers and employees to fund the Social Security/Medicare program. Property Tax- A real estate ad-valorem tax, calculated by a local government, which is paid by the owner of the property. Estate Tax - A tax levied on the net value of the estate of a deceased person before distribution to the heirs.

Unit Vocabulary Progressive Tax - A tax that imposes a lower tax rate on low-income earners compared to those with a higher income, making it based on the taxpayer's ability to pay. That means it takes a larger percentage from high-income earners than it does from low-income individuals. Regressive Tax - A tax applied uniformly, taking a larger percentage of income from low-income earners than from high-income earners. It is in opposition to a progressive tax, which takes a larger percentage from high-income earners.

Unit Vocabulary Tariff - A tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports. Tax Deductions -A reduction of income that is able to be taxed and is commonly a result of expenses,

Unit Vocabulary Fiscal Policy -The use of government revenue collection (mainly taxes) and expenditure (spending) to influence the economy Federal Policy - A category of articles concerning policy of the Federal government of the United States

Introduction to the public policy process | US government and civics | Khan Academy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipm5Bk10Fio (5:46)

Keep In Mind…… Your Values or opinions need not be predetermined by your friends or parents, etc. How you prioritize values may change depending on circumstances Listen to your classmates with an open mind and respect

Focus Question Why do people disagree on policy? In this lesson you will learn how values shape opinions about public policy.

Value Cards Freedom Diversity Equality Cooperation Security Justice Self-reliance Community Stability Democracy

Prioritizing Values Words can mean different things to different people. These differences can make collective decision making concerning public policy a challenge

Small Group Discussion Words can mean different things to different people. Compare your rankings How are they different? How are they similar? How do you define words differently?

Group Discussion Did you find the activity difficult or easy? Words can mean different things to different people. Did you find the activity difficult or easy? Share how you had your values ranked, why?

Small Group Discussion Words can mean different things to different people. Identify one public policy Reach an agreement on how the cards should be ranked.

Group Discussion Did you find the activity difficult or easy? Words can mean different things to different people. Did you find the activity difficult or easy? Share how you had your values ranked, why?