The Machinery of Public Policy #1

 Refer to page 27 in Governing Health then go to appropriate government websites to update the information to reflect Congress in 2016, note parties, gender, race and class and anything else you think is interesting or notable about these legislators. You do not need to submit the names and affiliations of members, just review them so that you can answer questions below based on the most current information.

Refer to page 33 in Governing Health– go to Congressional websites and look up those in roles leadership in Senate and House. Note the people in key roles noting their gender, class, gender, political affiliation, where they come from and the committees on which they serve. You do not need to submit the names and affiliations of members, just review them so that you can answer questions below based on the most current information.

Look at the website of the Democratic and Republican parties and read their policy platforms and information about the current political race for the next Presidential election. Note which policies you think are relevant to the area of health policy. You do not need to submit the names and affiliations of members, just review them so that you can answer questions below based on the most current information.

Based on your readings, the video and all of the information from above, answer the following questions:

What does Congress do?

What does the President do?

How do power and gender, race, class inequalities figure into the process by which health policy is made?

Who is deciding how policy gets made?

Whose voice is heard and whose voice is left out?

How do you understand the differences between the Republican and Democratic parties in terms of health policy issues?

What concerns do you have about these issues, as a potential voter, and as a person whose life is affected by the decisions made by Congress.