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1. Public Policy and Politics

Exercises

1. Introduction to FirstGov
   
   As discussed in the text, the USA.gov Web site is a comprehensive portal that enables users to access countless government sites from one location. This first exercise provides three simple searches to help you navigate the site and to help demonstrate the role that citizens may play in influencing policy decisions. To be in a position to influence decisions, you must have access to the policymakers. USA.gov is one resource you can use to learn about members of Congress, the executive branch, and your own state government sites:



• Go to the USA.gov Click on "Federal Government" and then on "Legislative Branch." Click on “House Home Page” and you will be taken to the U.S. House of Representatives Web site. If you don't know who your representative is, enter your zip code at the top and click on "Go." Who is your representative? Does he or she have a Web page? On which committee(s) does your representative serve? Why do you think your representative selected this committee?





• Return to the USA.gov home page. Select the "Executive Branch" link under the “U.S. Federal Government” menu to access any office within the executive branch. Choose the link to "President Barack Obama." What current issues is the president concerned about?





• Return once again to the USA.gov home page. Select the "State Government" link under “Government Agencies.” Select your own state or territory from the list provided. Who is your current governor, and what current issues appear to be highlighted? Note that you may need to search around on the state sites to find this information.