Policy Brief: Identify a public problem or issue in the realm of Civil Rights in the United States

For this paper you will need to explore the world of public policy (government actions to solve public problems) by using the policy analysis process to address issues that we care about. You will identify a public problem or issue in the realm of Civil Rights (in the United States) to be your focus for the entire paper. For the paper you will have researched the nature of your selected problems and brainstormed ways those problems might be solved through government policy action.

There are Four Steps you will need to follow:

Step 1: Define and Analyze the Problem (Due by July 1, 2020)

Step 2: Construct Policy Alternatives (Due by July 8, 2020)

Step 3: Choose Evaluative Criteria (Due by July 15, 2020)

Step 4: Write a Policy Brief Paper (Due by July 20, 2020)

Step 1: Define and Analyze the ProFor Steps 1-3 you will work through the steps in the Policy Analysis Process. You will have to cover each of these steps in the Policy Brief you write in Step 4.

Your first task in Step 1 of the Policy Analysis Process is to identify a societal issue or problem in the area of civil rights (equal treatment under law and policy).

Describe the problem, providing data and evidence to support your claims regarding the “unsatisfactory set of conditions” you have observed, either in your local community, elsewhere in the state, or nationally (Kraft 125).
Please do the readings prior to completing this assignment, as you are required to incorporate the assigned materials into this section.

These are the kinds of questions you should consider in your response:

What area of public policy have you chosen to focus on this term?

What specific policy problem have you identified?

Where does the problem exist?

Who or what is affected?

How did it develop?

What are the causes?

Why should government intervene to address this problem?

It is critical that you reference the textbook; outside sources, and that you format your posts properly!

Your response to this prompt should NOT be based on your personal opinion.

Consider that you are writing this for someone who is not inclined to believe that this particular issue is actually a problem.

In that circumstance, you would need to provide as much empirical evidence and data as possible to convince this individual to agree with you.

Similarly, you should aim to include the same empirical evidence and data in your response.

Convince us all that this is an issue worthy of public policy solution! To do this, you will need to do a lot of research.

Don’t neglect this aspect of Step 1 or you will find the rest of the steps in the process even more difficult.

Step 2: Construct Policy Alternatives

For this second step you will continue to work through the steps in the Policy Analysis Process. You will have to cover each of these steps in the Policy Brief you write in Step 4.

Your second task is to complete Step 2 of the Policy Analysis Process.

Before you move forward with the construction of alternatives, it is imperative that you are as clear as possible about what you identify as the problem. Once you have refined your problem statement, consider how the policy instruments presented in the readings might be utilized to address the issue.

1.In one sentence, state the specific problem you have identified as your focus this term. (You should be able to complete the following sentence: “The problem is…”)

2.What policy options might be considered for dealing with the problem you have chosen to focus on this paper? Please discuss three policy instruments in your response.

Step 3: Choose Evaluative Criteria

For this third step you will continue to work through the steps in the Policy Analysis Process. You will have to cover each of these steps in the Policy Brief you write in Step 4.

Your third task is to complete Step 3 of the Policy Analysis Process.

Please continue to clarify your problem statement, then consider which of the evaluative criteria presented in the readings might be helpful in determining which alternative (of those discussed in Step 2) you will ultimately select as the ‘best” possible policy to address the problem.

1.In one sentence, state the specific problem you have identified as your focus this term.

2.Which of the evaluative criteria discussed in the readings will you use to evaluate the policy alternatives for solving your problem? Choose 2 or 3 criteria explain why they matter to you, and how using them will help you determine which policy alternative to choose.

Step 4: Policy Brief
The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate an ability to recognize and attempt to solve a public problem using the policy analysis process, as articulated by Kraft & Furlong.

You should review all the work completed in the first three steps, as each of those early tasks took you through a different step in the process.

There are Five Steps in the policy analysis process:

1.Define and analyze the problem (Review: Step 1)

2.Construct policy alternatives (Review: Step 2)

3.Develop evaluative criteria (Review: Step 3)

4.Assess the alternatives

5.Draw conclusions

REQUIREMENTS

1.In approximately five double-spaced pages, apply ALL FIVE steps of the policy analysis process to the problem you selected.

Please use the problem you chose in Step 1.

2. Resources must include direct references to the textbook as well as (at least) three additional academic sources.

Acceptable sources:

A. Major news sources (online or in-print), academic books, academic journal articles, government websites, think tank briefs/articles/reports.

B. No websites of unknown or inexpert origin, and definitely no Wikipedia.

The paper should have great source of content, strength of argument, and also organization, use of sources, and ability to clearly communicate ideas.