Understanding the Policy-Making Process

Sep 10, 2024

Notes on the Policy-Making Process

Introduction to Policy-Making Process

  • Public policies result from contributions by various groups, both public and private.
  • The process involves the creation and evolution of policies over time in the American government system.

Key Vocabulary

  • Political Agenda: Issues that require governmental action.
    • Current issues include abortion legality and gun control.
  • Cost: Burden that individuals bear if a policy is enacted (monetary or non-monetary).
  • Benefit: Satisfaction from a policy adoption (can be monetary or non-monetary).
  • Regulations: Rules governing commercial activities aimed at improving conditions for consumers, workers, or the environment.

Types of Public Policy

  1. Congressional Statute: Law passed by Congress.
  2. Presidential Action: Decisions influencing executive branch organizations.
  3. Court Decision: Opinions from the Supreme Court or other courts.
  4. Budgetary Choice: Legislative enactment of taxes/expenditures.
  5. Regulation: Adoption of rules by agencies.

Steps in the Policy-Making Process

  1. Agenda-Setting: Public attention focuses on an issue.

  2. Policy Formation: Policymakers develop strategies to address the issue.

  3. Policy Adoption: Formal adoption of a policy solution via legislation or rules.

  4. Policy Implementation: Government agencies establish procedures and guidelines to execute the policy.

  5. Policy Evaluation: Assessment of whether the policy addresses the problem it was meant to resolve.

  6. Policy Revision: Changes made to improve outcomes based on evaluation findings.

    • Example: Political cartoon highlighting unethical practices led to the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, creating the FDA.

Types of Politics in Policy

  1. Majoritarian Politics: Almost everyone benefits, and everyone pays.
  2. Interest Group Politics: One small group benefits while another pays.
  3. Client Politics: One small group benefits, and almost everyone pays.
  4. Entrepreneurial Politics: Almost everyone benefits, and a small group pays.
    • Policy Entrepreneurs: Activists who form a political majority for unorganized interests.

Growth of Government

  • The size of the government is increasing as national government adopts state/local policy ideas.
  • Pork Barrel Legislation: Legislation providing tangible benefits to constituents for votes.
  • Log Rolling: Legislators support each other's proposals for mutual benefit.

Self-Check Questions

  • True/False: Entrepreneurial politics cannot occur without a policy entrepreneur.
    • Correct: False
  • True/False: Bureaucracy reacts to policy and is not a source of policy.
    • Correct: False

Multiple-Choice Questions

  1. Most important decision affecting policymaking:
    • Correct: B (Determine what to make policy about).
  2. Example of policy characterized by distributed benefits and costs:
    • Correct: E (Increased Social Security benefits).

Conclusion

  • The six steps of agenda-setting, policy formation, adoption, implementation, evaluation, and revision are essential in creating policies.