• Identify your federal and state representatives. For those of you who reside outside the U.S., identify your local and territorial officials.

In order to succeed at playing a game, it is important to learn the rules. Knowing the rules of the game helps you to understand the objectives. Once you know the rules, you can begin to play the game, to look for your place in the game, to think about how you can influence the game, and to consider changes that would be most helpful in making for a better game. This theory also applies to the passage of new policies and laws. If you understand how a law is passed, it is more likely that your advocacy work will result in new legislation.

When examining lawmaking bodies, there are clearly similarities and differences between not only the process of lawmaking, but also in the way in which the policymakers are elected and work. Consider how laws are established in your state or municipality. What types of challenges exist within your state and municipality? How are Haitian laws made in Haiti or territory and what types of challenges exist?

Prepare for this Discussion:

• Review the following articles: “The Legislative Process,” “Legislative Process: How a Senate Bill Becomes Law,” and “Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government.” Reflect on how laws are passed.
• Review the interactive media “Public Health Policy Process.”
• Research your federal and state legislative processes. For those of you who reside outside the United States, focus on your local and territorial legislative process.
• Select a law addressing a public health issue that was passed in your state. For those of you who reside outside the United States, select a law passed at the local or territorial level. Think about the process of how your selected law was passed.
• Consider the potential impact of your selected law on future national laws.
• Identify your federal and state representatives. For those of you who reside outside the U.S., identify your local and territorial officials.

Description of the law you selected, and explain in detail the process of how it became a law within your state or territory. Then, describe the potential impact of your selected law on future national laws. Make sure to identify your federal, state, and/or territorial representatives/officials