Politics and Public Policy Making

Public Policy  Method by which government attempts to solve nation’s problems  Gov’t constantly making public policy  Made at all levels of gov’t  Process may be slow w/ small changes (incrementalism) or a major shift from previous policies

The Policy Making Process  Involves several steps:  Agenda setting- recognizing an issue as a problem that must be addressed as part of the political agenda  Often arise from citizens’ concerns, interest groups, the media, or government entities  Silent Spring- environmental movement, Unsafe at Any Speed- consumer safety concerns, How the Other Half Lives- urban poor, The Other America- poverty  Policy formulation- finding ways to solve the problem  Explore alternate plans of action & develop proposals to solve the problem  Ex: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) recognized disparity in drinking ages contributed to high fatalities. Congress passed bill that provided for cut off of federal highway funds to states that did not raise their drinking age to 21  Policy Adoption- adopting a plan of action to solve the problem  May require the passage of legislation  Policy evaluation- analysis of policy & its impact upon the problem  Judging the effectiveness of the policy & making adjustments if necessary

Domestic Policy Crime Prevention  Traditionally crime prevention is a state/local matter  As crime/violence has increased, the federal government has become more involved.  Lyndon Johnson declared “war on crime” creating a commission to study crime & suggest solutions.  Today, more crime is classified as federal crimes & usually carries harsher punishment than state crimes  Assassination attempt on Ronald Regan- most debate centered around gun control  Bill Clinton- signed the Brady Bill requiring a 5-day waiting period & background check before buying a handgun

Domestic Policy Crime Prevention  Bill Clinton- signed the Brady Bill requiring a 5-day waiting period & background check before buying a handgun  Also received Congressional support for legislation banning sale of certain types of semiautomatic assault weapons  Expired during George W. Bush Administration  Congress also passed legislation for new spending on crime initiatives  Hiring of new police officers & building new prisons & “boot camps” for juvenile offenders  Lists federal crimes punishable by death & the “three strikes laws”, mandating certain sentences if convicted of a 3 rd felony

Domestic Policy Crime Prevention  Federal government has become more involved in crime prevention:  Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) collects & reports evidence in matters relating to federal law or crossing of state borders  Provides investigative and lab services tolocal law enforcement  Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) prohibits the flow of illegal narcotics into the U.S. & patrols U.S. borders  Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) administers laws dealing w/ explosives & firearms & regulates the production & distribution of alcohol & tobacco products

Domestic Policy Education  Public education falls under authority of state governments, although federal government has taken an increasing role in education  1950s (Brown v. Board of Education & Soviet launch of Sputnik) the major goal of education policy has been to ensure equal access  Great Society- Congress passed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1965) providing federal funding to public school districts with low-income populations  Congress creates the Department of Education to coordinate education policy  Congress has also provided programs for higher education  Loans & grant programs for college students

Domestic Policy Education  Recent Proposals in Education  The use of school vouchers that would allow parents to choose the school their children attend at public expense  National standardized testing  President George W. Bush signed No Child Left Behind  Required all states to administer proficiency tests in public schools to monitor student progress  Has created some improvement in many public schools, although some provisions were controversial  12/10/15- President Obama signs a rewrite of NCLB w/bipartisan support: Every Student Succeeds Act

Domestic Policy Education  June 1, Common Core State Standards Initiative : an educational initiative in the U.S. that details what K–12 students should know English Language Arts & Math  December 10, President Obama signs a rewrite of NCLB w/bipartisan support: Every Student Succeeds Act

Domestic Policy Energy  Energy policy has traditionally been about conservation & study of alternative & renewable energy sources  New policies address global warming & toxic waste disposal  a superfund was established for cleanup of toxic waste  Current law provides for the tracking of hazardous chemicals & disposal of toxic waste  American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009  Included more than $70 billion in tax credits & direct spending on programs involving clean energy & transportation  President Obama” By 2035, 80% of America’s electricity will come from clean energy”

Domestic Policy Energy  Energy Security: President Obama’s plan includes initiatives such as raising fuel efficiency standards, doubling the number of hybrid vehicles in the federal government’s fleet, & expand domestic offshore oil & gas exploration in Alaska & American southwest coast  Since 2008, American oil production has increased by 70%  Hydraulic fracturing “fracking”: a well-stimulation technique in which rock is fractured by pressurized water  Proponents advocate benefits of more accessible natural gas and petroleum  Opponents worry about environmental consequences: ground & surface water contamination, air & noise pollution, & possibly triggering earthquakes

Domestic Policy The Environment  Late 18 th century the federal government began setting aside land as national parks, monuments, and forests  1950s- Congress began passing legislation aimed at protecting the environment & cleaning up polluted air & water  1970s- Congress created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce environmental legislation  Clean Air Act of 1970 & 1990: reduce air pollution  Water Pollution Control Act of 1972: clean up nation’s lakes & rivers  Endangered Species Act; provides government protection of species listed as endangered

Domestic Policy The Environment  President Obama’s Clean Power Plan  Reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 32% from 2005 levels by 2030  September EPA announces proposed carbon pollution standards for new power plants  Increased solar generation by twenty-fold & tripling electricity production from wind power  2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris  US & other countries agree to reduce emissions as part of the method to reduce greenhouse gas  Non-binding until 55 member states who produce over 55% of greenhouse gases have ratified the agreement  Faces strong opposition by Congressional Republicans

Domestic Policy Health Care  The US does not have a national health care system like Great Britain or Canada  Yet large percentage of government spending on Medicare & Medicaid  Medicare: hospitalization insurance for the ederly  Medicaid: public assistance in health care for the poor  Government agencies that promote health care:  Public Health Service  Centers for Disease Control (CDC)  Veteran’s Administration (VA)  Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

Domestic Policy Health Care  Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010)  AKA “Obamacare”  Most significant overhaul of health care system since 1965  The ACA was enacted to increase the quality and affordability of health insurance, lower uninsured rate by expanding public & private insurance coverage  Reduces the cost of healthcare for individuals & the government  Introduced mechanism like mandates, subsidies, & insurance exchanges  Requires insurance companies to cover all applicant within new minimum standards & offer same rates regardless of pre-existing conditions or sex  In 2011, CBO projected that ACA would lower both future deficits & Medicare spending

Domestic Policy Social Welfare  Began during the New Deal era  Great Depression led citizens to want more government help against economic downturns & poverty  Social Security Act (1935) was first step  Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society continues war on poverty  Medicare, school aid, job training  Housing programs & urban renewal have been implemented w/ the goal of providing housing for all citizens  1980s, President Reagan reduced benefits & removed people from eligibility in an effort to reform the social welfare system amid claims of increasing government

Domestic Policy Social Welfare  President Clinton continued reform, limiting how long a person could receive benefits & giving money to states to run their own programs  1996, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) was replaced by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)  TANF is a block grant that limits recipients to no more than five years of assistance  Also requires recipients to work, receive vocational training, or participate in community service

Economic Policy Raising Revenue  Economic policy can have profound effect on national elections  President & Congress are held responsible for economic “health” of nation  Improvements through government spending & taxation policies  Government raises revenue through collection of taxes  Federal governement collects individual income taxes, corporate income taxes, social insurance taxes, excise taxes, customs duties, & estate & gift taxes  Also raises revenue through sale of government securities by Federal Reserve & through the collection of fees for services provided, such as patents

Economic Policy Government Spending  Government spending may be discretionary or nondiscretionary (mandatory)  Discretionary spending- spending about which government planners may make choices  Defense, education, student loans, scientific research, environmental cleanup, law enforcement, disaster aid, & foreign aid  Nondiscretionary spending- required by existing law for current programs  Interest on the national debt, & social welfare & entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans’ pensions, & unemployment insurance  In recent years, the percentage of nondiscretionary spending has grown while discretionary spending has decreased

Economic Policy The Federal Budget  Federal Budget- indicates the amount of money the federal government expects to receive & authorizes government spending for a fiscal (12-month period) period  Fiscal year for federal government spending is from October 1 to September 30  The process of preparing the federal budget takes about 18 months & involves several steps:  Proposals- each federal agency submits detailed estimate of its needs for the coming fiscal year to the Office of Management & Budget (OMB)  Executive branch- the OMB holds meeting at which representatives from the various agencies may explain their proposal & try to convince the OMB that their needs are justified  OMB works with president’s staff to combine all requests into a single budget package, which is submitted to Congress in January or February

Economic Policy The Federal Budget  The process of preparing the federal budget takes about 18 months & involves several steps (Continued):  Congress- Congress debates & modifies the president’s proposal  Congressional Budget Office (CBO) provides Congress w/ economic data  Committees hold hearings, analyze budget proposals, & by September offer budget resolutions to their respective houses (which must be passed by September 15)  The Appropriations Committee for each house submits bills to authorize spending  President- Congress sends appropriations bills to the president for approval  If no budget is approved- Congress must pass temporary emergency funding or the government will shut down  Debt ceiling

Foreign & Defense Policy The President & Foreign Policy  Foreign policy involves all of the strategies & procedures for dealing w/ other nations  One purpose is to maintain peaceful relations w/ other countries through diplomatic, military, or trade relations  The president is often considered the leader in development of foreign policy  Originates from constitutional powers, historical precedents, & institutional advantages of the executive branch  Commander-in-chief of armed forces, negotiates treaties & executive agreements, & appoints foreign ambassadors, ministers, & consuls

Foreign & Defense Policy The President & Foreign Policy  Presidents also issue foreign policy statements that have not passed through the legislative process but set the tone for foreign policy  Monroe Doctrine, Truman Doctrine  Executive agreements, or pacts between the president & heads of foreign countries, do not require Senate ratification.  Iran Nuclear Deal  President can respond more quickly than Congress whan a national crisis requires quick action  Pearl Harbor, September 11, 2001

Foreign & Defense Policy The Department of State  State Department is the major organization for carrying out foreign policy  Secretary of State reports directly to the president w/ advice about foreign policy  Secretary of State also supervises the diplomatic corps of ambassadors, ministers, & consuls  State Department is organized into bureaus, each specializing in a region of the world

Foreign & Defense Policy The Department of Defense (DoD)  Department of Defense provides militray information to the president  The Secretary of Defense advises the president on troop movements, military installations, & weapons development  Because the SecDef is a civilian, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, composed of a chairman & the highest-ranking military officer in the Army, Navy, Air Force, & Marine Corps, also provide advice on military matters

Foreign & Defense Policy The National Council & The United States Information Agency  The National Security Council is part of the Executive Office of the President  Membership includes the president, vice president, secretaries of defense & state, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), & the president’s national security advisor  The US Information Agency keeps the world informed about America, the American way of life, & American views on world problems through information centers around the world  Sponsors the “Voice of America” radio programs that are broadcast around the world

Foreign & Defense Policy The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  The CIA is responsible for gathering secret info essential to national defense  Although an independent agency, operates within the executive branch to gather & analyze information & brief the president & National Security Council  President’s Daily Brief- top secret document produced each morning for the president. Fuses intel from CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Security Agency (NSA), and other members of the intelligence community

Foreign & Defense Policy Congress  Congress plays a major role in developing foreign policy  Responsibility of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee & House Committee on Foreign Affairs to make recommendations to Congress & the president on foreign relations  Senate must approve all treaties by a 2/3 vote & all nominations for ambassadors by majority vote  Congress has power to declare war & approve spending for national defense

Current Issues in Foreign Policy  Nuclear Proliferation- how do we prevent our enemies or terrorist groups from gaining access to nuclear technology & material?  Global Terrorism- how do we defend ourselves against terrorist attacks?  Intelligence gathering, Department of Homeland Security, border security, immigration  International Trade  North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)  World Trade Organization (WTO)  Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP)  International Conflict- Iran, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, War in Iraq, War in Afghanistan, Libya, ISIS