Policy Guide: Identifying Government Leaders
Kathleen Z. Russell, Pacific Lutheran University

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Instructions

In order to play an active role of your community, you will need to know who leads, how they come to leadership roles and how they can be removed from leadership. This assignment most usefully follows a discussion of the system of checks and balances. Each student will choose a cell from the Policy Makers Matrix, investigate the results and bring a report to class.

Public Policy Makers Matrix

For each cell in the matrix, students will answer these questions on no more than one piece of paper with type on each side of the page.

• Name the office, the incumbent, and their contact information.

• Do candidates for this position run based on their political party or in a non-partisan election?

• What are the qualifications for the position?

• What are the responsibilities of role incumbent, or what do they do?

• In the case of malfeasance, how can the official in this position be removed?

• Are there any interesting facts about this position or those who occupied it?

After gathering information individually, those who were assigned or chose the same cell will compare results to ensure accuracy. One correct copy will be given to the professor, for publication via electronic means or for copying so that each student contributes, and each receives a complete set of the elected policy makers at all levels of government.

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