What is Government Policy?

Government policy is a system of laws, regulatory measures, courses of action and funding priorities promulgated by governmental bodies. It determines who gets what, when and how, and shapes public life, as well as societal trends and historical trajectory. Effective policies support societal demands and encourage civic engagement; ineffective ones create disillusionment with political institutions, which then fuels social movements seeking change.

Governments develop policy through a complex process, from agenda setting and problem identification to analysis, implementation and evaluation. They must consider the influence of political parties, national interests and the needs of a diverse population, as well as engage stakeholders in co-creating policy.

Policy decisions can take the form of taxes, subsidies, spending plans and regulations, all designed to achieve certain economic and social objectives. These objectives may be as simple as promoting economic growth, improving education or increasing social safety nets. They can also be as complex as reducing crime rates or safeguarding the environment.

A policy debate is a structured argument that involves two teams. One team affirms (supports) the resolution and the other team negates (opposes) it. Both teams have two constructive speeches and a rebuttal. They use a formal evidence structure called “cards” with full citations. Each team has a judge who votes for which team did the better debating. The affirmative speaks first, followed by the negative, who then asks questions. The positive then gives a rebuttal to the negative’s rebuttal, and so on.

How to Write a Good News Flash

news flash

A news flash is a brief piece of breaking news that updates listeners on events that affect their lives. It can be local, national or international and includes a mix of hard and soft news.

A good newsflash is quick, to the point and clear. During a newsflash the anchor is limited to 6 to 10 news items so it’s important that these are delivered in a short and compelling manner. It’s also important not to repeat news that is delivered in other parts of the broadcast such as the midday or evening bulletins.

To write a good newsflash start with a headline that accurately and enticingly conveys what the story is about. Follow with a nut graph that adds context and ties the facts you introduced in your lead into a bigger picture to show listeners how the news impacts their lives. Incorporate quotes from experts or witnesses to add credibility and perspective.

Then tell the story in a straightforward or narrative style, depending on what the news is about. A narrative flash often consists of a descriptive anecdote that grabs listeners’ attention and entices them to listen further. For example, a witty anecdote about eight California high school students who share the same name could be used as a newsflash. If the story involves a tragedy or disaster, use a scene-setter lede to set the stage and make listeners feel a connection with the topic. Lastly, end with a brief soundbite or a voicer to leave listeners with a sense of relief or even a laugh.

Confidence in Election Results

election results

A key to democracy’s success is the public’s confidence that election results are legitimate and accurate. This can only happen when all votes have been counted and certified. Every state has an official process for doing this, and it takes days or weeks to make sure all ballots have been properly counted.

This is important because prior research has shown that electoral expectations are shaped by partisan biases and the media’s aggregation of polling data (Kuru, Pasek and Traugott 2020; Madson and Hillygus 2024). When the outcome of an election is unexpected, it can exacerbate perceptions of fraud or irregularities, especially among voters who think their candidate lost. The unexpected loss of John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election, for example, fuelled conspiracy theories and allegations of widespread voter improprieties that tainted the election result (Gumbel 2008).

When news outlets collect data and analyse it, they can predict who will win each race. The data sources are unique to each outlet, but they may include the results of exit polls, the number of early in-person and mail ballots that have been cast, and patterns from past elections. Reporters can then track progress toward the completion of all votes counting and provide updates for each race.

When a news outlet is confident enough in its analysis to declare a winner, it makes a “call” of the predicted winner. Some outlets call races shortly after polls close, while others will wait until nearly all the votes have been counted.

Late-Breaking Research

latebreaking

When a new story is extremely important and must be reported immediately, it is called late-breaking. Breaking news typically requires an interruption of programming to report the information, but at 24-hour news networks with anchors available live for immediate interruption, breaking news can also be reported in the middle of regular programming using lower thirds and other graphics to convey urgency. In the days before 24-hour television, interrupting programming for breaking news was reserved for severe and imminent threats such as tornadoes or landfalling hurricanes.

Late-breaking works (LBW) are research developments that may not have been published or presented in time for the CHI 2025 submission deadline, but are highly significant and of critical importance to the field. LBWs report on data that became available for public dissemination after the CHI abstract submission deadline, and must be substantially novel (not simply an extension of existing work) or definitively confirm or refute other critically important work. Accepted LBWs will be presented in the LBW session at CHI 2025 and appear semi-archival in the ACM Digital Library.

Global Affairs at Brookings

global affairs

The global affairs field spans a broad range of issues, including international relations, conflict and peacebuilding, human rights, economic development, gender studies and foreign policy. The fields are interconnected and share a common goal of understanding the world’s problems and working towards solutions.

Brookings experts are leaders in their fields, providing policymakers and stakeholders around the globe with trusted insights and recommendations to advance peace and prosperity. They are at the forefront of examining the causes and effects of major global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing complex challenges such as climate change, geopolitical competition, global health and sustainable development.

A global affairs student will develop a comprehensive knowledge of the world through courses that are both interdisciplinary and subject-specific, with concentrations in topics such as international development, political economy, security and conflict, and diplomacy. These courses will provide a foundation for students’ future career pursuits in the public, private and non-profit sectors in the United States and abroad.

Students in this program will also have the opportunity to gain real-world experience through a capstone project during their senior year, applying their academic training in a policy task force with an external partner such as a government agency, nongovernmental organization or nonprofit group or a company in the United States and abroad. Capstones can be completed during the fall of the senior year (for graduates who graduate in the spring) or in the final semester for students graduating in the fall.

What Is Business News?

Business is an enterprising activity carried out with the purpose of earning profit by producing or selling goods and/or services. Businesses can be private or public, and they can be for-profit or non-profit. Businesses can also be organized as sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, or joint ventures. The structure of a business is defined by the legal and regulatory environment in which it operates. Business news encompasses reporting on the activities of businesses and their impact on society, economy, and financial markets.

With a wide variety of businesses offering a range of products and services, it’s important to understand the differences between them. For instance, while Amazon is known for its ecommerce platform and book catalogue, Apple is well-known for its innovative electronic devices such as laptops, phones, and earphones.

Responsible and impactful business news reporting has become a vital part of the media scene as it helps maintain transparency, promotes informed decision-making, and assists industrial growth. Its role as a watchdog allows it to expose fraudulent activities and ensure corporate accountability. It empowers investors by providing information about various industries, global trends, and market shifts.

In addition to providing relevant economic insights, business news channels inform consumers about the effects of new government policies and regulations on businesses. They provide details on mergers and acquisitions, analyze industry performance, and report on current market trends. Additionally, they help consumers understand complex financial jargon and make data-driven decisions. By focusing on consumer needs and providing engaging short-form content, business news channels are expanding their reach and achieving high engagement rates.

How Does the Presidential Race Work?

There are a lot of people who want to be President and they all have their own ideas about how government should work. Those with similar ideas belong to the same political party. Once a year parties hold Primaries and Caucuses to decide who will represent them at the national conventions. The party’s presidential nominee is selected from there. Candidates then go out on the campaign trail and debate other candidates. They are asked tough questions and have to defend their policies and stances on issues against other candidates.

On election day, Americans vote for a president and vice president. Those with the most votes win. However, each state has a different system for counting its electoral votes. Those that lean heavily one way or the other are called battleground states. Usually, the candidate with the most popular votes in each state wins its electoral votes. However, there are a few exceptions. In some states, voters can cast multiple ballots for the same person, allowing them to split their votes and give a boost to a different contender.

In the event of a tie, the U.S. House of Representatives selects the winner from among the top three contenders for the presidency. The same process is used for the vice presidency, with an absolute majority of the states casting their votes required to elect a candidate. The duly elected President and Vice President are sworn in on January 20 (or 21, if it is a Sunday). The modern nominating process was never written into the Constitution but has evolved over time by the political parties to clear the field of candidates.

Economic Forecast

Economic forecast is the process of making predictions about economic variables using time-series models. The goal is to develop a model that incorporates empirical regularities from historical data and a theoretical understanding of the economic processes behind those observations. The results are then used in a wide range of activities including monetary policy setting, state and local budgeting, financial management, and engineering design.

Most forecasts are geared toward predicting quarterly or annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rates, the top-level macro number on which businesses and governments base their decisions with respect to investments, hiring, spending, and other important policies that impact aggregate economic activity. Business managers rely on these numbers to make decisions about purchasing equipment and materials, as well as to plan their operating activities. Many companies employ in-house economists to focus on forecasts that are relevant to their specific business. Others rely on academic economists attached to think tanks or private consultants.

A variety of forecasting models have been developed over the years. The most sophisticated use mathematically rigorous econometric models that apply a computation to a series of inputs to generate a prediction for one or more variables. These models may be multivariate or n-variate and can incorporate either linear or nonlinear assumptions. In addition to the model-based methods, there are also a variety of judgmental techniques that rely on the expertise of individual forecasters. These include survey-based forecasts, economic base analysis, shift-share analysis and the Grinold and Kroner model.

State of Emergency

State of emergency is a term used by states to indicate that, due to a particular crisis or disaster, the normal functioning of the state is suspended and certain rights are restricted. In practice, state of emergency powers allow governments to put through policies they would not normally be able to. Such emergencies include natural disasters, civil unrest or armed conflict and medical pandemics or epidemics.

Many states have specific statutes that permit the declaration of a state of emergency, or the governor may invoke emergency powers based on the advice of the council. The scope of such statutes varies from state to state, but typically the declaration allows for the activation of the state’s response plans and other authorities, including suspending constitutional rights and imposing curfews.

The use of state of emergency is an essential tool for addressing unexpected crises, enabling governments to react more rapidly and effectively than they would under normal circumstances. These tools also help to address legislative gridlock and the influence of special interests that might otherwise delay or block necessary action.

In New Zealand, the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 empowers the Government and local-body councils to declare a state of emergency within an area of the country or a region, depending on their needs. A state of emergency usually expires seven days after the date of a declaration unless extended, but may be renewed by the Minister of Civil Defence or a local mayor.

The Right to Political Asylum

Many people from around the world leave their home countries because they fear persecution, whether it is based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or social group. Asylum is a way to find safety and protection in another country while being allowed to work legally, access healthcare and become a permanent resident. However, asylum is not a guarantee of security or a free pass to citizenship.

The right to asylum is rooted in the nonbinding 1951 Refugee Convention, which set forth the definition of a refugee and states that refugees should not be returned to situations where their lives and liberty would be threatened (the principle of non-refoulement). It also allows immediate family members to receive asylum along with the principal applicant.

In the United States, individuals can seek affirmative asylum at a U.S. port of entry or apply for defensive asylum in immigration court after being detained by ICE or other law enforcement agencies. Individuals can also seek more limited forms of protection, such as withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture.

People seeking asylum often have to wait years before their cases are resolved and may be exposed to financial hardship. In addition to legal costs, they must pay for housing, food, transportation and child care. Depending on their case outcomes, some asylum seekers are eligible for government assistance programs. An ORR office or a public benefits specialist can help determine which services an asylum seeker should apply for.