Government policy describes the laws, regulations and courses of action concerning a given topic promulgated by a governmental entity. Local, state and national governments establish policy for a wide variety of issues that impact citizens, including but not limited to education, taxes, employment, public transportation systems and the environment. They determine everything from how many stop signs to put on a street to what percentage of a community’s schools should be public and open to all.
Governments’ policy objectives vary, but they generally seek to foster economic expansion, lower inequality and safeguard the environment. They may pursue these goals in a number of ways, from increasing spending or lowering taxes to stimulate an economy; cutting taxes to reduce external vulnerabilities; or investing in infrastructure to improve long-term growth. They may also take a balanced approach, combining elements of all these policies to maximize their effectiveness.
When policy decisions are successful, they can reinforce societal trends and promote trust in government institutions. However, when they fall short of expectations, they can create disillusionment with political systems and fuel more robust social movements aimed at advocating for change.
Policy debate is a strategic argument between two teams, each with two people. The team in affirmation presents a plan, which the judge must then decide whether to support or reject. The team in negation is then given the chance to argue why the plan is a bad idea. Both teams must use a range of strategies to win rounds, from using evidence and facts to presenting persuasive arguments about the value of the plan.