Public Policy …the study of what governments do, why they do it, and what difference it makes. Thomas Dye

Public Policy …the sum of government activities, whether acting directly or through agents, as it has an influence on the lives of citizens. G. Guy Peters

…the combination of basic decisions, commitments, and actions made by those who hold or affect government positions of authority. Such as Taxes = federal revenue Larry N. Gerston

Public policy issues are the “passengers” that move off and on the “wheels” of government.

Public Policy…

Public policy can be… Substantive - major rearrangements of public resources or values; e.g., tax reform, school uniforms Symbolic - policies that tend to provide more psychological relief than actual change in the political system; e.g., legislation against flag burning

Constants of Public Policy Issues funding, morality, social issues, economic… Organizations or people politicians, special interest groups, celebrities Resources affected by those issues services, funding, goods Levels of government that address issues National, State, Local

Who are the organizations or people in public policy making? The process is initiated by: Individuals Interest Groups Media Government

Executive Branch The President can sign executive orders, send weapons or US troops to other countries in crisis situations. Involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan Terrorism Patriot Act

Legislative Branch State legislatures make policy with the hundreds of statutes or laws it enacts each year. Death Penalty Health Care Taxes

Judicial Branch Federal, state, and local courts establish policy through interpretation of the law. Separate but Equal – segregation Women’s right to privacy (abortion)

Bureaucracy A collection of agencies designed to carry out relatively specific tasks. DMV State Department Treasury Department FBI, CIA, NASA OSHA Postal Service

[County, City, Town/Village,School Board, etc.] Public Policy Environments Levels of Government National State Local [County, City, Town/Village,School Board, etc.] Environment Marriage Law Education

DECISION MAKING BLACK BOX [Laws, Court Decisions, Executive Orders] Policy Making Process DECISION MAKING BLACK BOX Policy Makers Executives Legislature Courts etc. (any level)‏ OUTPUTS [Laws, Court Decisions, Executive Orders] Rewards Deprivations INPUTS Demands Supports Feedback [Evaluation] Outcomes [Implementation]

The Policy Making Environment is Constantly Changing Examples, stem cell research, originally a scientific breakthrough, becomes a public policy issue. cell phones, originally a communications development, become a political issue for drivers.

Review Examples: Affirmative action Aging AIDS and HIV Air pollution Public policy is a course of action adopted and pursued by a government. Examples: Affirmative action Aging AIDS and HIV Air pollution Alcoholism Animal rights Automobile safety Campaign finance Capital punishment (death penalty) Censorship Child abuse and domestic violence

Energy and the Environment Euthanasia and assisted suicide Children China Civil and human rights Cloning and genetics Crime and justice Date rape Democratization Diet and Nutrition Disability Disaster Preparedness Diversity Domestic violence and child abuse Drug policy, prescription Drugs, illegal, and legalization Drugs in sports Drunk driving Economics Education Eminent Domain Employment and labor Energy and the Environment Euthanasia and assisted suicide

Juvenile crime and drug use Labor and employment Federal Spending File Sharing and Anti-Piracy Flag desecration Freedom of speech Gambling, legalized Gangs Gay and lesbian marriages Gay and lesbians in the military Genetics and cloning Global warming Globalization Gun control Hate crimes Health Health Care and reform HIV and AIDS Homeland security and patriot act Homelessness Housing and urban development Human and civil rights Hunger Immigration Iraq Juvenile crime and drug use Labor and employment Media ratings Militia movement Multiraciality Nutrition and diet Patriot act and homeland security Pornography Poverty and welfare Prescription drug policy Prisons Privacy

Prostitution Race, national origin, and ethnicity Recycling Religion and state Renewable energy School choice and vouchers School prayer School violence Sexual orientation Smoking Social security reform Sports and Drugs Stem cell research Suicide Teen drinking Teen drivers

Teen pregnancy Teen suicide Television violence Term limits Terrorism Title IX Vouchers and school choice Water pollution Welfare and poverty Women Youth drinking Youth drivers Youth pregnancy Youth suicide