Tyler Junior College Boundary Lines of Electoral Districts Discussion

For this assignment, you will read an article proposing a change to current public policy, analyze it and respond to questions designed to assess you on the four important skills listed above. The article has been scanned in as attachment.

In its most simple form, a public policy proposal does two things. First, it asserts there is a problem in society and it argues it needs to be fixed. The problem may affect just a few people, or the problem may affect everyone in society. Second, it proposes a solution requiring government action of some kind to fix the problem. Whomever is making the proposal asserts that government is the proper institution responsible for addressing the issue. So, for us to be able to fully understand a policy proposal, we must first be able to identify and understand the problem, and then we must be able to understand what the proposed solution is.

First read the questions in the assessment below so you will have a general idea of what you will be looking for in the article. After reading the questions, then thoroughly read the article. (You may find it helpful to print the article for highlighting or note-taking purposes, or if your computer has highlighting and note-taking features, you may do so without printing.) Make sure that you first understand the underlying issue (or problem) being identified and who is affected by the issue. Then make sure you understand the proposed solution (the policy proposal) and how it might affect people (positive and/or negative affects). Remember, the “policy proposal” is not the same thing as the “underlying issue.” Please do not make this common mistake of getting these two things mixed up!

1. Describe the issue (the underlying problem) the article discusses and describe the proposed solution.
2. Describe information that is presented as evidence in the article that demonstrates the need to address the issue.
3. Describe any projected/expected outcomes that are used to justify the solution proposed in the article
4. Based upon your understanding of the policy proposal in this article, state whether you support/oppose the policy proposed (or even offer a different policy choice) and then explain why you take that position. (HINT: you might want to wait to answer this question last so you have completely thought about all the nuances of this assignment from the other questions!)
5. Describe problems the issue creates for individuals (How might you or someone else be personally affected by the issue?)
6. Evaluate the positive and negative effects the proposed solution may have on individuals.
7. Explain if and how the proposed solution supports values of democracy, such as liberty, equality, justice, independence, opportunity and freedom.
8. Describe ways individuals (you and/or others) might change their community involvement or political participation if this proposed solution was adopted.