In this assignment, you will draft a memo on a policy change in the United States you want to bring about (this can be one from the discussion section activity or not). The memo should include five sections where you propose a policy change in the United States, discuss the context of the proposed policy change, and lay out a strategy for how you can bring about the change.
You will write and submit your memo organized in five sections.
Brief Summary: Describe in one or two sentences your proposed policy change. Succinctly describe the goal of your policy in a way that if someone only read this section, they would know what you were trying to accomplish.
Policy Problem: Provide a brief description (roughly 5 sentences) of government policy as it exists today (the status quo) in your policy area. Cite at least one source, such as a government website or a news article, for this information. Then describe why the status quo creates a problem (economic, social, or political) that needs to be solved.
Policy Proposal: Describe your proposed policy change in more detail than you did in the brief summary (5-10 sentences). Explain how it will work as a solution to the problem you described in the previous section.
Target Decision-Makers: Describe if your own member of the U.S. House of Representatives would or would not support your proposed policy change and why (1-2 sentences). Make sure you state who they are. Who are two government officials (state and/or federal) that would have the authority to make the change you are proposing and why (2-4 sentences)?
Interest Group Strategies: Describe two strategies (other than donating money to campaigns) your interest group could use to convince these decision-makers to make the change you’re proposing. What would be your message and how would you communicate it? (3-5 sentences on each strategy) If your interest group had the funds, would they target your member of Congress with campaign contributions in the pursuit of your policy change and why (1-2 sentences)? Who is a government office holder (other than your own; state or federal) your interest group would give money to in the pursuit of passing your policy change and why (1-2 sentences)?
Section Four Assignment Rubric
Criteria Ratings Pts
Learning Outcome 1: Brief Summary
view longer description
5 pts
Component is complete and includes only correct information
2.5 pts
Component is present but incomplete or incorrect
0 pts
Component is missing
/ 5 pts
Learning Outcome 2: Policy Problem
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5 pts
Component is complete and includes only correct information
2.5 pts
Component is present but incomplete or incorrect
0 pts
Component is missing
/ 5 pts
Learning Outcome 3: Policy Proposal
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5 pts
Component is complete and includes only correct information
2.5 pts
Component is present but incomplete or incorrect
0 pts
Component is missing
/ 5 pts
Learning Outcome 4: Target Decision-Makers
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5 pts
Component is complete and includes only correct information
2.5 pts
Component is present but incomplete or incorrect
0 pts
Component is missing
/ 5 pts
Learning Outcome 5: Interest Group Strategies
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5 pts
Component is complete and includes only correct information
2.5 pts
Component is present but incomplete or incorrect
0 pts
Component is missing