Resources
What is Public Policy?
Getting scholars to agree on a single, all-inclusive definition of public policy is no easy task. See how Professor Larry Gerston describes key characteristics of public policy in this Center for Civic Education produced video.
Student Forms
Project Citizen Level 1
- Problem Identification and Analysis Form
- Interview Form
- Printed Sources Form
- Radio/Television/Internet Sources Form
- Information From Print or Electronic Sources Form
- Information From Letters or Interviews - Documentation Form
- Task One - Explaining the Problem
- Task Two - Examining Alternative Policies
- Task Three - Proposing a Public Policy
- Task Four - Developing an Action Plan
- Constitutional Opinion Form
- Portfolio Criteria Checklist - Each Section
- Portfolio Criteria Checklist - Overall Portfolio
- Guideline - Possible Questions for Reflection
Project Citizen Level 2
Example Portfolios

Traditional Portfolio
View a Project Citizen portfolio created by a fifth-grade class at W.J. Quarles Elementary School.
Example Portfolio
Electronic Portfolio
View this online portfolio from Benjamin Franklin Elementary in Franklin, Wisconsin.
Example PortfolioResearch
Research examining the nationwide effectiveness of the Project Citizen program is often conducted. We offer a few key highlights below. Additional research is available on our Research and Evaluation - Project Citizen page.
One-page description of research tied to the Project Citizen program
Project Citizen: An Introduction | |
Margaret Stimmann Branson | |
Associate Director, Center for Civic Education | |
February 01, 1999 |
One-page description of research tied to the Project Citizen program
Public Policy Links
Government
Office Kids' Portal for the US Government
National Conference of State Legislatures
State Legislative Websites Directory
State and Local Government on the Net (Directory of official state, county, and city government websites)
THOMAS (Library of Congress)
National Conference of State Legislatures
State Legislative Websites Directory
State and Local Government on the Net (Directory of official state, county, and city government websites)
THOMAS (Library of Congress)
Health
Environment
Animal Control and Treatment
School Curriculum/Standards
Afterschool School Activities