AP U.S. Government & Politics Public Policy ms. moy

What is public policy? Public policy is the ultimate expression of political influence and authority Constitutional underpinnings frame the realm of acceptable approaches to solving public problems Political behavior is premised on the idea that the will of the public is somehow reflected in public policy outcomes

Public Policy The institutional behavior of elected officials, political parties, appointed judges, bureaucrats, and interest groups are all focused on preserving or enacting policies that conform to their unique ideologies, interests, and platforms. Policy is made through the courts, the bureaucracies, by presidents, and through political pressures that come from the various forms of political input into our system.

AP U.S. Government & Politics Description of Public Policy “Public policy is the result of interactions and dynamics among actors, interests, institutions, and processes.” Public policy is a purposive and consistent course of action produced as a response to a perceived problem of a constituency, formulated by a specific political process, and adopted, implemented, and enforced by a public agency.

A Model of the Policy – Making Process 1. Problem Recognition and Definition Identification of an issue that disturbs the people and leads them to call for governmental intervention Example: Public officials and environmental groups identify acid rain as a problem For a condition to become a problem, there must be some criterion – a standard or a value – that leads people to believe that the condition does not have to be accepted and that the government can deal with it effectively and appropriately.

2. Agenda Setting Government recognition that a problem is worthy of consideration for governmental intervention. Example: Action by the president, members of Congress, and interest groups put acid rain on the policy agenda. An agenda is a set of issues to be discussed or given attention. Every political community, local, state, and national, has a systematic agenda – a formal system for determining issues and any actions that might be taken concerning those issues. Only problems to which legislators or other public officials feel obliged to devote active and serious attention to are included.

3. Policy Formulation Identification of alternative approaches in addressing the problems placed on government’s agenda Example: The White House, executive agencies, and interest groups develop proposed courses of action for controlling acid rain. The crafting of appropriate and acceptable proposed courses of action to resolve public problems The amassing of scientific data to be used in the determination of the specific approaches to solve the problems.

4. Policy Adoption The formal selection of public policies through legislative, judicial or bureaucratic means. Example: Provisions for an emissions trading system to reduce acid rain are included in the Clean Air Act of 1990. The approval of a policy by the people with requisite authority such as a legislature or chief executive.

5. Budgeting The allocation of resources to provide for the proper implementation of public policies Example: Funds are appropriated so that the Environmental Protection Agency can put the acid rain control system into effect. Most policies require money in order to be carried out. Some policies such as those providing security essentially involve the transfer of money from taxpayers to the government and back to the individual beneficiaries.

6. Policy Implementation The actual administration or application of public policies to their targets. Example: An emissions trading system was created, and in 1993, the first sales of allowances for the discharge of sulfur dioxide were held. The process of carrying out public policies that were implemented by administrative agencies.

Other factors in agenda-setting Political leadership Presidential agenda setting is influenced by three considerations Electoral benefits Historical achievement and organizations (task forces, commissions) Political ideology of President and advisors Policy entrepreneurs – Private sector – financial supporters Supreme Court Protest Activity Media attention

Non-decisions and Loss of Agenda Status Non-decisions – When a problem or policy alternative is kept off of the agenda, whether by force or culture Political ideology a factor in support for and implementation of specific policies Presidential authority over executive agencies and treaty-signing can be used decisively or indecisively – Example? Loss of agenda status Items that reach the agenda can also disappear “Issue-attention cycle” Some items do not go through this cycle (ex. environmental protection)

Policy Formation as a Technical Process Two different activities involved in formulation Decisions on what, if anything, should be done about a given problem Adoption of legislation or administrative rules that appropriately enact the agreed upon principles Loopholes Clarity of phrasing and intent prevents unfavorable judicial interpretations and provides guidance to those who must implement the policy