POLICY MAKING PROCESS

Step One: Problem Identification The citizens have to decide if it’s a problem that we want the government to get involved in—censorship, consumer protection

Step Two: Policy Agenda Someone in government decides to address the issue: –a bill is introduced in Congress –The President organizes a study group –The courts agree to take the case

Lots of groups involved in steps 1 & 2 –Interest groups –Labor unions –Individuals –The Public –The Media

The Institutions of Gov’t— Congress President Courts

Step Three: Policy Formulation This involves bargaining & compromise. This is when a committee in Congress holds hearings & allows experts & citizens to testify. This step is gathering information & looking at options to solve the problem.

Step Three con’t This step also includes looking at costs vs. benefits—who’s going to pay & who’s going to benefit. –This includes perceived costs vs. benefits as well as real costs & benefits

Step Four: Policy Adoption Someone makes a decision: –Congress passes a bill –The President issues an executive order –The Court hands down an opinion in a case

Step Four Policy Adoption can also include taking NO action. The gov’t can decide that there is no solution or no solution that can be passed in Congress.

Step Five: Policy Implementation The Bureaucracy is usually the major player in this step.

There are 3 steps in the process of implementation 1. Translate the law into operational guidelines. 2. Get the personnel together with the equipment needed to carry out the law 3. Implement the law.

Step Six: Policy Evaluation This step just means that after the policy is implemented, it is looked at—did it solve the problems it was supposed to solve? The people are involved here—we let the gov’t know when they mess up!

Step Six, con’t Policy evaluation can lead to: –Changes in the policy –Expansion of the policy –Termination of the policy

Types of Policy: Domestic 1. Distributive—these policies encourage us to do something— subsidies for farmers, interest deduction for home owners—not very controversial 2. Redistributive—shifting wealth or access, tends to be controversial & have lots of interest group activity— clear winners & losers

Domestic Policy 3. Regulatory Policy –Protective—generally a type of consumer protections—truth in advertising, regulations for nursing homes --Competitive--this policy is designed to prevent monopolies

Foreign Policy 1. Strategic—U.S. Policy in regards to other countries—treaties, foreign trade, military alliances 2. Structural--personnel & equipment—military industrial complex 3. Crisis—Sept. 11, 2001, Pearl Harbo r

THE END!