Unit 5 Public Policy

If it’s not broken, why fix it?

Creating Public PolicyHow do citizens and government both work to create and implement public policy?

The Unit● Definitions of Public Policy● Process for making public policy● Converting laws into Actions

Public Policy Process● Method for making laws a reality in American

Life.● Deals in shades of gray, not black and white.

Public Policy and PoliticsPublic Policy is a specific course of action that government takes to address a problem.

Steps for Public Policy1- Agenda Setting - Issues?

2-Policy Formulation - How? What exactly?

3-Policy Approval -The Bill

4-Resource Allocation - What will it take?

5-Policy Implemention - expertise?

6- Policy Evaluation- Is it working?

Politics and PolicyLook at Table 17-1 in the textbook.

What is the difference between Politics and Policies?

redistributive policyProvides to one group of society while taking away benefits from another through policy solutions.

Examples?

Reverse distributive policyReduces benefits for all groups such as a tax increase in society often by imposing rules that govern everyone.

Not the Hunger Games, butZero-sum Games

A policy that takes away exactly as much in benefits as another group gains.

Not to decide is to decide.Nondecision

Take a look at the Global Community Commentary on page 462.

Assignment - Breaking the TriangleWhat is the Triangle for the issue of healthcare in the United States?

Lets look at pages 466-467.

What is role of Iron Triangle?Does it hurt or help in terms of Public Policy?

Why?

Magleby - 8 steps1 - Making Assumptions about the problem

2 - Setting the Agenda

3- Deciding to Act

4 - How much should be done?

5,6,7, and 8th steps5-Choose a tool for solving the problem

6-Who will deliver goods and services?

7-Making rules for implementation

8-Running the program

Can a Think Tank help?● Non-governmental organization that seeks to

influence public policy through research and education.

● So how might a think tank approach September 11,200l? Liberal TT? Conservative TT

● Healthcare? Minimum Wage?

Issue-attention cycleMovement of public opinion toward public policy from initial enthusiam to action to realization of costs and a decline in interest.

- Education? Global warming?

-Other examples?

How much do you do?Do you solve the problem incrementally or with punctuating policy?

What is the difference? What are examples?

Who solves it?Does it take an Iron Triangle or an Issue Network?

Keep in mind that the group of interest group, congress, and private corp/industry is only interested in the one specific issues and then disbands.(prescriptions for seniors-ex)

Choosing solution1. spend money (Social Security)

2. use taxes to regulate economy

3.produce goods and services directly

4. provide protection against risks

5. create standards, incentives, or penalties.

Finally - you have...A Regulation - a policy that encourages or discourages behavior by imposing specific rules.

(smoking,polluting, driving safely)

Rule-precise statement of how a law is implemented.

-Can impose penalties or rewards.