policy identification rubric topic is recognized as a relevant, contemporary government policy issue...

Policy Identification

RUBRIC• Topic is recognized as a relevant, contemporary government

policy issue• Related to domestic or U.S. foreign policy• Topic selected is realistic based on the scope of the Senior Project

requirements


1. What is the name, number, and jurisdiction of your chosen policy?

EXAMPLE• Name: Idaho Criminal Game Enforcement Act – Recruiting Criminal

Gang Members• Number: 18-5804• Jurisdiction: State of Idaho• Agency which passed policy or is involved in policy?:


2. What does this policy make illegal or propose to do?3. What are the penalties for not following this policy? AND/OR Does this policy provide funding for different organizations (who?)4. Who enforces this policy?5. Is there funding required for this policy? Where will that funding come from?


Idaho/State Laws:• Actual policy/law – print out

your law!• Bill – print out your bill!

• SB No. 1336

• Bill Status – print it out!• Statement of Purpose/Fiscal

Impact – print it out!

Federal laws:• Actual policy/law – print out

your law!• Congress.gov/Legislation/Microbead-

Free waters Act/Status of legislation/became law

• Public Law No: 114-114

• Bill – print out your bill!• H.R. 1321

• Bill Actions – print out actions!

Peer EditingThe guide for the best senior project research of all time

Why Peer Editing?

• To help yourself, your peers, and your teacher out

• Read each area and THOROUGHLY critique and help your peer

• Use the categories to determine how well your peer is doing, and where more research may be needed

Grading Criteria

Awesome!

Almost there!

Nope

1. While giving feedback be honest but also constructive!

2. Check one of the boxes that is appropriate for your peer and then provide detailed feedback or comments to help them• What is missing• Ideas for where to find

information• Questions you still have• Anything else!

Policy Identification - 1

SECTION 1: What to look for…1. Is the NAME of the law clearly stated?2. Is the LAW number identified • Say no to Bill, say yes to…P.L., USC, Statute, Code, etc.

3. Is the law’s jurisdiction stated?4. Are the agencies involved in the creation, regulation

and/or enforcement of the law identified?


SECTION 2: What to look for…1. Is the law’s purpose clearly stated?2. Are there quotes/statistics in the left-hand column?3. Is there an explanation of the information in own

words?


SECTION 3: What to look for…1. Are the penalties for not following this policy outlined?

OR2. Are there penalties for not following procedures/meeting criteria

of the law?3. Does this policy provide funding for different organizations? If

so, who & what purpose?4. Are there quotes/statistics?5. Is there an explanation of the information in own words?


SECTION 4: What to look for…1. Is the group/agency responsible for enforcement of law?2. Are there quotes/statistics?3. Is there an explanation of the information in own

words?


SECTION 5: What to look for…1. Is the funding required for policy stated?2. Is the source of funding identified?3. Are there quotes/statistics?4. Is there an explanation of the information in own

words?


CITATION EVALUATION:1. Does each section contain a citation?• Can use same reference more than once

2. Do all sources appear credible?• Feedback!

3. Are citations listed in back of packet?

History & Background

Why was your law needed?DUE: Jan. 29th (A) Feb. 1st (B)

History and Background

RUBRIC• Traces the history of the policy issue• Explains what was happening that made

it so policy exists today• Includes influence of major political

parties, elected officials, interest groups, and/or specific individuals had on policy issue

History and Background-1

• What is the name of your policy, when was it passed, and where was it passed?• Restate the name/number• Date signed into law• Where it was signed (jurisdiction all over again)

History and Background -

2. What events throughout history led people to want to pass your law (original purpose of the policy)?

Events: one to however many you need (minimum of 5)• REMEMBER you are focusing

on the events that led up to your law being passed

• The last event will be the process of how your bill became a law


3. What changes or amendments have been made to your law since it was first passed?

4. What political parties, agencies, interest groups, elected officials, AND/OR other individuals were involved in CREATING your law?

Bill, Bill Status and Committee Minutes

• Amendments• Elected Officials (Floor Sponsors)• Political Parties• Government agencies• Interest groups• Other individuals


Bill, Bill Status and Committee Minutes

• Bill• Amendments

• Bill Status:• Elected Officials (Floor Sponsors)• Political Parties (Floor Sponsors and

Governor/President)• Committee Minutes

• Government agencies• Interest groups• Other individuals

• http://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/session2014.htm

http://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/session2014.htm

http://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/session2014.htm

Peer EditingHistory and Background

Awesome! Almost there! Nope

History and Background -1

1. Name and number clearly stated?2. Date law passage?• Date signed into law!

3. Location of law?• Again, jurisdiction

History and Background - 2

1. Are there at least 5 events listed• These events have to in some way have correlation to why

your law was created2. Quotes/statistics?3. Explanation?4. Analysis/connection – How does this event connect to

the topic?


1. Changes or amendments since the original law was passed?

2. Quotes/Statistics?3. Explanation?4. Analysis/Connection?


1. Elected officials/political parties identified?2. Agencies identified?3. Interest groups identified?4. Other individuals identified?5. Quotes/statistics?6. Explanation?7. Analysis/connection?


CITATION EVALUATION:1. Does each section contain a citation?• Can use same reference more than once

2. Do all sources appear credible?• Feedback!

3. Are citations listed in back of packet?

Current SituationIs your law working…or not?

Current Situation

RUBRIC• Explains current situation• Effects, outcomes, changing factors

• Effects and outcomes supported with accurate data (graphs, statistics, etc.)

• Effects are explained AND analyzed

Current Situation

1. Name and number of policy – restate!2. What is your current policy TODAY?• Has it changed from when it was originally passed? -

Amendments?• Has it remained the same? – No amendments

3. How has this policy impacted the lives of people involved?• Have it put more/less people in jail? How many? Why?

“The percentage of teens in high school who drink and drive has decreased by more than half (54%) since 1991 (CDC, 2015).

Current Situation

4. Did it provide funds for things? Where did the funds come from?

5. Has policy met goals it intended?• How is it meeting goals OR how is it not meeting goals?“In 2009, 2,336 15- to 20-year-old drivers were killed, which

decreased by 15 percent from 2,742 in 2008. Additionally 196,000 15- to 20-year-old drivers were injured in motor

vehicle crashes in 2009, which decreased by 14 percent from 228,000 in 2008” (U.S. Department of Transportation, 2009).

Current Situation

6. How are people feeling about the policy today?

7. What factors are impacting the policy today?

Current Situation – Graphs!

Not So Good

Current Situation – Graphs!

Perfect!

Differing Viewpoints

What are people thinking?

Bell Ringer

What questions do you have about the current situation section of your research? What section are you

struggling with the most?


RUBRIC• Identifies two or more differing viewpoints in an

objective manner.


• Viewpoint One & Viewpoint TwoGROUPS that have opinions!• Interest groups: • EX: NRA, NAACP, NEA, PEETA, etc.

• Other state laws: have extreme differences or similarities• EX: Alaska texting and driving = $10,000 fine and up to one year in jail

vs. Montana = no ban• Individuals: must be an EXPERT in the field and be RELIABLE!!!!• Representing an organization and credible


Viewpoint BreakdownA. What is the opinion of this group?B. Why is this their opinion?C. What actions have they taken toward the law?

Don’t forget!• Quotes/Facts• Own Explanation• Analysis• Citations!

Policy Recommendation


RUBRIC• Identifies initial policy recommendation• Recommend changes to current policy OR the need for

the policy to remain the same


2. Should the policy stay the same or change? Why? Provide evidence below for WHY the policy needs to change OR stay the same.

CHANGING POLICY• State what you are changing it to• WHY are you changing it and what

isn’t working?

KEEPING POLICY• State that you are keeping the policy• WHY are you keeping it and what is

working?


3. If the policy should change, what should the policy be instead? Be specific and provide EVIDENCE for how this will be better.

CHANGING POLICY• State what you are changing it to• Be SPECIFIC in your changes!

• Step by step!• EVIDENCE – prove why changing

• DATE, STATS, LOTS OF INFO

KEEPING POLICY• What specifically is working with

your policy?• Be SPECIFIC in why things are

working• EVIDENCE! – prove why keeping

• DATE, STATS, LOTS OF INFO


5. (should be 4)Which party ideology does this recommendation benefit and why do they benefit?

DEMOCRATS• Would they support? Or not?• Find information to prove this –

quotes!!!

REPUBLICANS• Would they support? Or not?• Find information to prove this –

quotes!!!

Is your change/maintaining of policy politically feasible?


6. Economic Feasibility – What is the economic impact of your recommendation?

A. What financial cost would be created with your recommendations?B. What financial gains would be created with your recommendations?

Be Specific!!

policy identification rubric topic is recognized as a relevant, contemporary government policy issue...

Documents