Public Policy & advocacy
Public Policy & Advocacy provides members with the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge around competencies in policy and advocacy. This competitive event consists of an objective test. It aims to inspire members to learn about the government’s role in society and the interaction between economic and political life.
Event Overview
Division: High School
Event Type: Individual
Event Category: Objective Test, 100-multiple choice questions (breakdown of question by competencies below)
Objective Test Time: 50 minutes
NACE Connections: Career & Self-Development
Equipment Competitor Must Provide: Sharpened pencil, Conference-provided nametag, Attire that meets the Florida FBLA Dress Code
Objective Test Competencies
· Political Science Terms & Concepts
· History & Role of Political Science
· Civil Liberties & Civil Rights in Political Science
· Forms of Government & Legislatures
· Electoral Systems & Presidential Elections
· The Powers & Elections of Congress
· Federal Judicial System
· Federal Bureaucracy
· Mass Media & Politics
· Public Opinion & Culture
· Political Science Law
· Public & Social Policy
· Government Fiscal Policy
· Government Foreign & Defense Policies
· International Relations Concepts
District
Check with your District leadership for District-specific competition information.
State
Eligibility
· FBLA membership dues are paid by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on December 1 (or earlier date specified by District Director) of the current program year.
· Members may compete in an event at the State Leadership Conference (SLC) more than once if they have not previously placed in the top 10 of that event at the National Leadership Conference (NLC). If a member places in the top 10 of an event at the NLC, they are no longer eligible to compete in that event.
· Members must be registered for the SLC and pay the state conference registration fee in order to participate in competitive events.
· Members must stay in an official FBLA hotel to be eligible to compete.
· Each district may be represented by participant(s) based on the Florida FBLA scaled quota system
found on the Florida FBLA website.
· Each member can only compete in one individual/team event and one chapter event (American Enterprise Project, Community Service Project, Local Chapter Annual Business Report, Partnership with Business Project).
· If competitors are late for an objective test, they may be either disqualified or permitted to begin late with no extension of the time as scheduled.
· Participants must adhere to the Florida FBLA dress code established by the Florida Board of Directors or they will not be permitted to participate in the competitive event.
Recognition
· The number of competitors will determine the number of winners. The maximum number of winners for each competitive event is 5.
Event Administration
· This event is an objective test administered at the SLC.
· No reference or study materials may be brought to the testing site.
· No calculators may be brought into the testing site.
Tie Breaker
· Ties are broken by comparing the correct number of answers to the last 10 questions on the test. If a tie remains, answers to the last 20 questions on the test will be reviewed to determine the winner. If a tie remains, the competitor who completed the test in a shorter amount of time will place higher.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
· FBLA meets the criteria specified in the Americans with Disabilities Act for all competitors with accommodations submitted through the conference registration system by the registration deadline.
Penalty Points
· Competitors may be disqualified if they violate the Competitive Event Guidelines or the Honor Code.
Electronic Devices
· All electronic devices such as cell phones, headphones, and watches of any type are not to be brought to the testing site.
National
Be sure to see the National guidelines at https://www.fbla.org/divisions/fbla/fbla-competitive-events/
Study Guide: Competencies and Tasks
A. Political Science Terms & Concepts
1. Define political science.
2. Explain the role and conflicts of politics in government.
3. Define democracy, capitalism, and Constitutionalism.
4. Define types and sources of political power.
5. Explain shifting power from a majority to a few.
6. Explain the relationship between political culture and public opinion.
7. Describe the role of citizenship and civil society in a democracy.
8. Define political justice and individual rights.
9. Define the components of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
10. Explain the difference between countries, nations, states, and governments.
B. History & Role of Political Science
1. Describe the history of political parties in the U.S.
2. Explain the difference between the two-party and multi-party government systems.
3. Define current political parties.
4. Explain the role of minor political parties.
5. Describe the relationship between political parties and special interest groups.
6. Define special interest groups.
7. Explain the difference between private and public special interest groups.
8. Explain how special interest groups (example: Boston Tea Party) have influenced American politics.
C. Civil Liberties & Civil Rights in Political Science
1. Outline the history of Civil Liberties in the United States.
2. Explain the importance and limitations of freedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly.
3. Define the procedural rights for the accused.
4. Explain the right to privacy and the right to bear arms.
5. Describe the role of courts in deciding civil liberty cases.
6. Explain the history of civil rights.
7. Understand the concept of basic civil rights for all.
8. Explain equal protection under the 14th Amendment.
9. Explain Civil Rights for Women and Americans with Disabilities.
D. Forms of Government & Legislatures
1. Define the role and functions of government.
2. Explain the characteristics of a democracy.
3. Describe autocracy, totalitarianism, and authoritarianism.
4. Define transitional governments.
5. Explain the powers and functions of legislatures.
6. Differentiate between Congress and Parliament.
7. Explain the purpose of legislative committees.
E. Electoral Systems & Presidential Elections
1. Explain the U.S. Electoral College system.
2. Differentiate direct and indirect elections.
3. Describe individual representation and the U.S. electoral systems.
4. Define primary elections.
5. Explain election runoffs and recalls.
F. The Powers & Elections of Congress
1. Define the role of Congress.
2. Explain the electoral evolution of Congress.
3. Explain the rationale for reapportionment and redistributing congressional districts.
4. Explain party nomination.
5. Describe national forces that influence Congress.
6. Explain the difference between Presidential and Congressional campaigns.
7. Describe factors that influence election outcomes.
G. Federal Judicial System
1. Describe the difference between the state and U.S. court systems.
2. Describe the power of the federal judiciary.
3. Define the federal court system of the U.S.
4. Explain the judicial decision-making process.
5. Explain the checks and balance system on the power of the U.S. Supreme Court.
6. Explain the difference between original and appellate jurisdiction.
7. Explain the selection of Supreme Court Justices process.
8. Describe how special interest groups use litigation strategies to influence government policy.
H. Federal Bureaucracy
1. Define bureaucracy.
2. Explain the history, impact, and problems associated with federal bureaucracy.
3. Explain the relationship between the President, Cabinet, and Congress when determining legislation.
4. Explain how elections are related to public perception of government.
5. Define the bureaucratic accountability process.
I. Mass Media & Politics
1. Explain how mass media and journalism have impacted the political system.
2. Describe the difference between private- and state-controlled media.
3. Explain media’s influence on the public.
4. Define media bias and the reason for public criticism of media.
5. Explain the role of media in elections and other government activities.
6. Explain rules that govern media.
7. Define yellow media.
J. Public Opinion & Culture
1. Define public opinion and public culture.
2. Explain how to measure public opinion.
3. Explain how public opinion leaders are selected recognized.
4. Describe the difference between random and quota sampling used to collect public opinion.
5. Explain the bias associated with opinion polls and surveys.
6. Explain how voter turnout is impacted by pols and surveys.
7. List alternative forms of political participation.
K. Political Science Law
1. Explain the difference between laws and customs.
2. Define American law.
3. Define code law.
4. Explain the difference between criminal law and civil law.
5. Define statutory law.
6. Describe administration, regulatory, and religious law.
L. Public & Social Policy
1. Explain the steps of the public policy process.
2. List types of policy.
3. Give examples of Republican and Democrat policy beliefs.
4. Define social insurance programs.
5. Describe public assistance programs.
M. Government Fiscal Policy
1. Explain the difference between market and state-controlled economies.
2. Define and give examples of regulatory policy.
3. Explain governmental policies to protect the U.S. economy.
4. Describe business cycles influenced by governmental decisions.
5. Explain how government promotes economic interests.
6. Define fiscal policy.
7. Explain how monetary policy is determined by the Federal Reserve.
8. Describe types of U.S. foreign policy.
N. Government Foreign & Defense Policies
1. Explain which government entities are responsible for foreign policy.
2. Describe situations that call for U.S. military power.
3. Explain how government protects the ideals, interests, and needs of America.
4. Explain the economic rationale for a national security policy.
5. List the tools of foreign policy.
6. List important veteran organizations.
O. International Relations Concepts
1. Explain the difference between globalization and nationalism.
2. Define sovereignty and world policy.
3. Describe international policies.
4. Explain inconsistency of human rights throughout the world.