Key Terms in Policy

Public Policy

• General goals set by political leaders that help shape specific laws on a topic.

• A set of rules established by a government to regulate behavior.

• A financial plan for government spending and revenue generation.

• A collection of opinions and beliefs held by the public.

Public Agenda

• Topics that are at the top of the public’s concerns and have the attention of political leaders.

• A list of private interests that are not discussed publicly.

• A set of policies that only benefit a specific group.

• Issues that are ignored by political leaders.

Interest Groups

• Organizations created to press for new laws and policies their members favor.

• Groups that oppose any changes in existing laws and policies.

• Organizations that focus solely on fundraising for political campaigns.

• Coalitions formed to promote a single issue without regard for broader policies.

Lobbying

• Seeking to influence legislators to introduce or vote against a bill.

• A method of public speaking to persuade citizens.

• A process of gathering signatures for a petition.

• A technique for organizing community events.

Media

• Mass communication.

• Social networking.

• Personal communication.

• Direct messaging.

Global Economy

• The interconnected trade and business around the world.

• A system of local markets operating independently.

• A type of economy that focuses on agriculture.

• The economic policies of a single country.

Lobbying

• The act of seeking to influence politicians or public officials on a particular issue.

• A method of conducting public opinion polls.

• A strategy for increasing voter turnout in elections.

• A process of drafting new legislation in Congress.

Policymakers

• A person responsible for making policy

• A person who enforces laws

• A person who studies economics

• A person who votes in elections

Legislation

• A collection of laws enacted by a governing body.

• A type of government policy that is not legally binding.

• A set of guidelines for ethical behavior in politics.

• A document outlining the duties of public officials.

Lobbyist

• A person who organizes public protests against government policies.

• A person whose job it is to contact elected officials and convince them to vote a particular way on proposed laws; often employed by interest groups.

• A government official responsible for creating new laws.

• A journalist who reports on political events.