Overview:
What are the roles and responsibilities of Washington’s Insurance Commissioner? Learn about this statewide elected office with former WA Insurance Commissioner Deborah Senn.
This video examines the role of the Insurance Commissioner, the person who runs the department that regulates insurance coverage sold to citizens ‘from cradle to grave’ in Washington State. By focusing on the consumer protection responsibilities of the department, the viewer examines the merits of this being an elected position.
Essential Questions:
- To what extent does the role of the insurance commissioner affect your daily life?
- Why is the insurance commissioner an elected position in state government?
Objectives:
- Understand the role of the Insurance Commissioner in State Government
- Evaluate the need for insurance in modern Washington society
- Evaluate the transparency of Washington State government
- Explain how government officials are accountable to the people
Grade Level Standards:
- Middle School: 6th – 8th
- C2.6-8. 2 Distinguish the structure, organization, powers, and limits of government at the local, state, and tribal levels.
- C4.6-8.3 Employ strategies for civic involvement that address a state or local issue.
- High School: 9th – 12th
- C2.11-12.1 Analyze citizens’ and institutions’ effectiveness in addressing social and political problems at the local, state, tribal, national and/or international level.
- C4.11-12.2 Analyze and evaluate ways of influencing local, state, and national governments and international organizations to establish or preserve individual rights and/or promote the common good.
About this Lesson Plan:
- Both the Teacher Guide and the Student Notebook are in a downloadable Google Folder so teachers and students can use them online, with Google Classroom, or printed out.
- The lessons are designed to be used as written OR teachers can use them part and parcel and choose the components that work best for their students and classroom time.
Teacher Guide