Public Policy

Getting Involved: Economic Policy

Participation Activity 1 :: Participation Activity 2

Participation Activity 1

The spending of the federal government has a significant impact on the American economy. Every year the president proposes a budget and submits it to Congress. The president does not get everything he wants; various members of Congress also have spending priorities and pet policies to promote.

Check out the president’s current proposed budget at:

Office of Management and Budget
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/

1. Pick a specific policy about which you feel strongly. Decide whether spending for this policy should be higher or lower than that proposed by the president.

2. Visit http://thomas.loc.gov/ to find out which committee(s) cover that policy and who the committee members are.

3. Contact members and inform them of what you would like them to do and why. To increase your effectiveness, follow the sage advice at http://www.speakout.com: Click on the "Activism" link and apply the "Tips for Effective Activism."

4. What response did you get for your efforts? Do you feel you made a difference? Why or why not?