Government Decision- Making Processes and Citizenship

Essential Question: How are government decisions shaped by different points of view?

Terms to discuss:

Point of view

School government

local government

state government

national government

Who leads each of the above?

Governments frequently have to make important decisions affecting thousands or even millions of people. For example:

Should students be allowed to leave a campus on their own during the day?

Should Walmart be allowed to be built within the city?

Should a state be allowed to implement a lottery?

Should American military troops be kept in Iraq or Afghanistan to fight terrorism?

Governments officials often make decisions and follow a logical decision-making process.

Arrange the following processes in a logical order:

Identify a problem

Gather information

List variousoptions

consider advantages and disadvantages

of each option

choose a solution

Evaluate the effectivenessof the solution

Answers to flow chart

1. Identify a problem2. Gather information3. List options4. Consider advantages and disadvantages of each option5. Choose a solution6. Evaluate the effectiveness of the solution

POLITICAL PROCESSES AND CITIZENSHIPFocus Question: How are government decisions shaped by different points of view?

ACTIVITY: Your group will now represent different points of view in a city council meeting on a zoning issue. The proposal before the council is a permit request to build a dirt bike path in close proximity to a housing neighborhood.

GROUPS-1. A neighborhood association2. The land developer for the dirt bike path3. Company executives from a well-known bike company4. Members of an anti-noise environmental group5. Young adults representing the youth in the neighborhood6. Members of the "Freedom in America" organization7. City council members

Prepare your points of view and arguments (for or against) the dirt bike path.Your group must have a minimum of 5.

Your group will present your point of view to the city council.