Domestic and Foreign

Unit Overview

In this unit, students will determine an approach for providing effective input to the appropriate government level, branch, or agency. (CS #18)

Section A: Content Statement 18

A variety of entities within the three branches of government, at all levels, address public policy issues that arise in domestic and international affairs.

Content Elaboration

Public policy issues are matters of discussion and debate related to the functions of government. They frequently revolve around problems the government is attempting to address and the projected consequences of public policy decisions.

Examples of different levels and different branches of government addressing public policy issues include:

• federal executive – the Department of State, which advises the President on foreign policy and directs activities of embassies in foreign countries;

• federal legislative – the Congressional Budget Office, which provides analyses of economic and budgetary data

• state legislative – the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, which assists in drafting legislation;

• state judicial – the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas, which apply sentencing guidelines for convicted felons; and

• local legislative/executive – county commissions, which determine and grant tax abatements.

The complexity of public policy issues may involve multiple levels and branches of government. These levels and branches may engage in collaboration or conflict as they attempt to address public policy issues.

Let's Practice: Content Statement 18

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Section B: Domestic and Foreign

It is important to understand the meaning of domestic and foreign. Domestic means inside your home county. Foreign means outside your home country. If you fly from Columbus, Ohio to Detroit, Michigan, this would be considered a domestic flight because you flew inside your home countries border. If you fly from Columbus, Ohio to Warsaw, Poland, this would be considered a foreign (international) flight because you left the home country and travel to a foreign nation.

So, it is also essential to understand the difference between Domestic and Foreign Policy. Issues or concerns that affect a nation's citizens at home are called domestic affairs. An example is that the United States is one country that supports 50 states and territories. Issues or concerns involving multiple nations around the world are called foreign affairs. An example is that the United States is only one of over 190 countries around the globe.

Being able to keep our own country running smoothly and maintain good relations in the world is not an easy task. A country must have a positive and productive domestic/foreign policy. Policy means a plan or course of action.

Domestic Policy

Domestic Policy is our country's overall plan for dealing with issues at home.

Domestic Policy includes:

· Laws the United States passes

· Government programs

· Government actions

Examples of domestic Policy:

· Crime

· Education

· Poverty

· Economy

· Healthcare

The main goal of our domestic policy is to create an environment in which Americans can be safe, secure, and successful

Let's Practice: Domestic Policy or Not

Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy is the overall plan the U.S. has for interacting with the rest of the world.

America pursues policies that will protect our borders and our private citizens.

America acts to ensure world peace and a global balance of power.

America promotes democratic values and human rights around the world.

America wants to trade with other nations in a way that strengthens our economy and the global economy

Let's Practice: Foreign Policy or Not

The United States has several tools and strategies to accomplish its foreign policy goals. Look below at the chart.

Strategies of Foreign Policy
Diplomacy	the practice of maintaining positive relationships with other nations
Treaties	formal agreements, like contracts, between our country and another
Alliances	unions of friendship between our country and other nations for assistance and protection
Military	most influential in the world and is another tool for defending ourselves at home and defending our interests and our allies around the world
Foreign Aid	form of money, food, medicine, weapons, supplies, or assistance for things like natural disasters

Let's Practice: Tools

The U.S. Department of State has the responsibility for our foreign policy. This department is part of the executive branch and is under the authority of the President of the United States. Its headquarters are in Washington, D.C. The State Department's mission statement is to "advance freedom for the benefit of the American people and the international community." The head of the State Department is the Secretary of State. He or she is appointed by the President and is a member of the Cabinet, a group of the closest presidential advisors. The secretary is our nation's top diplomat, and he or she travels the world visiting other countries and meeting with foreign leaders as the President's representative abroad.

The U.S. has ambassadors in the capital cities of most other nations around the world, just like those nations have ambassadors of their own in Washington, D.C. American ambassadors live and work in a foreign country, but their job is to represent the U.S. government there. If a crisis or problem were to break out between our country and another, our ambassador to that nation would be the person in the best position to practice good diplomacy and find a solution.

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Section C: Levels and Branches of Government

The Constitution of the United States creates a federal system of government. Federalism shares power between the federal, or national, government, and the 50 state governments. Federal and state governments have three branches of governments to help run our state and country. Here are two examples on the level and branches of government. Declaring war is at the federal level and belongs to the legislative branch. Carrying out elections is at the state level and belongs to the executive branch.

In the United States, we have three levels of government:

1. Federal Government à United States of America

2. State Government à Ohio

3. Local Government à Jefferson (county), Columbus (city)

Ohio has modeled its state constitution after the federal United States Constitution. Each uses separation of powers that is divided among the three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.

Branches	Federal	Ohio
Legislative: make laws	United States Congress	General Assembly
Executive: enforce laws	President	Governor
Judicial: interpret laws	United States Supreme Court	Ohio Supreme Court

Let's Practice: State, Federal, or Both

Let's Practice: Level and Branch