Finding Public Policies
"Public policy can be generally defined as a system of laws, regulatory measures, courses of action, and funding priorities concerning a given topic promulgated by a government entity or its representatives." (Kilpatrick, 2010, para. 1).
Source: Kilpatrick, D. G. (2000). Definitions of public policy and the law. Retrieved from https://mainweb-v.musc.edu/vawprevention/policy/definition.shtml
This guide is meant to steer you toward sources to identify policies in your area of research. The guide is not meant to be comprehensive, rather, a starting point to identify policies and how they affect citizens.
Policy may be made at the:
- Federal or national level
- State level
- Local level (also consider company and organizational policy - search within the Human Resources area)
If you are uncertain where to begin consult one of our online reference resources for background information and a holistic overview of a topic.
Reference Resources
- CQ Researcher - SAGE This link opens in a new windowReports that explores a single current issue in the news in depth. Topics range from social and teen issues to environment, health, education and science and technology.
- Credo This link opens in a new windowOnline reference library that provides access to a selection of encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri and books of quotations in general and subject-specific disciplines. Credo includes interactive mind maps.
- SAGE Video This link opens in a new windowSAGE Video hosts streaming video collections created to support a range of levels, from reference content for research, to pedagogical content for undergraduate teaching, to higher- level academic interest material. Currently available collections include counseling and psychotherapy, criminology and criminal justice, education, media and communication, psychology, and sociology.
