CH 3 and 4 Quiz

Policymaking as a career

Proliferation of think tanks and policy analysis, complexity of issues, helpful to elected officials, advocacy, and justify political positions.

How many models of policymaking are there?

5

Draw conclusions= propose a policy

Which policy option is the most desirable given the circumstances and the evaluative criteria? What other factors should be considered?

group theory

A policymaking theory that sees public policy as the product of a continuous struggle among organized interest groups; tends to believe that power in the US political system is widely shared among interest groups, each of which seeks access to the policymaking process.

regulatory policy

Government restriction of individual choice to keep conduit from transcending acceptable bounds. Often used in health, safety, and environmental policies.

The 6th Model: the policy cycle; the flow of events to create policy

6 step process that details the policy process model.

Political Systems Theory

A broad, general systems theory that considers pressures on the process from the environment (demands) like economic, social, and cultural contexts. Examines how the policy process flows-inputs, policy outputs, policy outcomes, and feedback. Government responds to demands from interest groups and the public by making policy.

rational choice theory

A policymaking theory that draws heavily from economics; assumes that in making decisions, individuals are rational actors who seek to attain their preferences or further their self-interests. The goal is to deduce or predict how individuals will behave under a variety of conditions.

elite theory

A policymaking theory that emphasizes how the values and preferences of governing elites, which differ from those of the public at large, affect public policy development.

institutional theory

A policymaking theory that emphasizes the formal and legal aspects of governmental structures. Institutional models look at the way governments are arranged, their legal powers, and their rules for decision making.

political systems theory

A policymaking theory that stresses the way the political system respond to demands that arise from its environment, such as public opinion and interest group pressures. Systems theory emphasizes the larger social, economic, and cultural context in which political decisions and policy choices are made.

political stream

A political climate or public mood, evident in public opinion surveys, the results or elections, and the activity and strength of interest groups.

policy evaluations

A step in the policy process that assesses whether policies and programs are working well. Also called program evaluations.

policy legitimation

A step in the policy process that gives legal force to decisions or authorizes or justifies policy action.

policy formulations

A step in the policy process that results in the development of proposed courses of action to help resolve a public problem.

policy cycle

A term sometimes used to describe the policy process to indicate that the steps of the process can be continuous and cyclical.

rational-comprehensive approach

A way of making decisions that considers all significant policy alternatives and al of their major consequences. Often contrasted with incremental decision making, which is thought to be more realistic and practical.

rational decision making

An approach to decision making that attempts to follow a series of logical or rational steps: defining a problem, identifying goals and objectives to be sought, evaluating alternative solutions, and recommending one that best achieves the goals and objectives.

What is policy analysis?

Conduct research that breaks down and issue. Collect and interpret information to clarify public problems, and study the consequences of policy actions. Includes the study of: public problems and emerging concerns and proposed policy alternatives.

Why is US policymaking so complex?

Government structure, actors, and informal actors: interest groups and the public. Policymaking is complicated by design.

What are the steps in policy analysis?

Define and analyze the problem, construct policy alternatives, choose evaluative criteria, assess policy alternatives, and draw conclusions= propose a policy.

Rational Choice Theory

Economic model to explain policy development. Policy decisions are made by self-interests individual policy actors: elected individuals as well as the public. Rational choices are made to protect self-interests. Useful to predict implications of policy alternatives. Politicians: re-election implications. Public: public behavior (gas tax hike)

Interest Groups

Hold a definite position/bias. Focus on information that supports their case.

Lowi Policy Typology

General ways policies address a problem include... Distributive policy: individualized grants and programs. Redistributive policy: winner and loser- one gains, another pays. Regulatory policy: government restriction of choice. Can be competitive regulations (regulations of business) and protective regulations (regulations that protects the general public.)

Who does policy analysis and using what methods?

Government agencies (federal and state), universities and think tanks.

Institutional Theory

Government institutions' structure and process dominate policymaking. Institutions: procedures and rules and government actors. Structures and rules can empower or obstruct political interests. Many kinds of institutions can influence policy: markets, firms, etc.

how is policy analysis different from the policy-making process?

In the policy making process: problem definition and agenda setting, policy formulation, and policy evaluation and change are places in the process where policy analysis is especially needed.

distributive policies

Individual programs or grants that a government provides without regard to limited resources or zero sum situations (in which one group's gain is another's loss)

systemic agenda

Issues the public is aware of and may be discussing. Also referred to as the societal or social agenda.

institutional or government agenda

Issues to which policymakers give active and serious consideration.

3: policy legitimation

Legal force to decisions: the policy is passed after study and debate. Requires more than a vote: it must be accepted by the public. If not, it won't be well implemented. Based on political feasibility and social acceptability.

1b: Agenda Setting

On the agenda: legislators begin active discussions about a problem and potential solutions. Systemic agenda (the issue has public attention). Institutional agenda (without public debate; government debates the issues. Many problems don't rise to this level and are ignored by policymakers. Kingdon's streams of agenda setting: level of salience and conflict influence what gets put on the agenda. Conflict and conflicting opinions and polarizations ranges from low to high. So does saliency or importance. best chances to get on an agenda: problems that the public cares about (high salience) and consensus about how to handle it (low conflict).

democratic political processes

Opportunities for citizen involvement in decision making and ensuring public review of policy ideas.

redistributive policies

Policies that provide benefits to one category of individuals at the expense of another; often reflect ideological or class conflict.

1a: problem definitions: identify a problem and its causes

Policy analysis studies the symptoms and causes of its problems. Differing Perspectives: Does everyone agree that infrastructure decline is a problem? Is the problem big enough to do something about? Whose responsibility is it? Problem definition is always biased! Interest groups help grams problems, media and public opinion frame problems. and Why has the issue becomes such a problem now?

Group Theory

Public policy is dominated by interest groups that are continuously struggling, they counterbalance each other and shape policy through incremental change. Advocacy Coalition Frameworks: competing alliances of policy actors from different public and private institutions that each share a similar perspective that try to influence policy over time. So policy subsystems influence the process.

Approaches to policy analysis

Rational-comprehensive approach: broad, thorough. Logical sequence of steps- define problem; set outcomes goals; propose and evaluate alternatives; choose policy options. incremental approach: limited and gradual policy change; uses variety of methods. Purpose: to inform and develop understanding in order to make better policy.

competitive regulation

Regulatory policies that are mostly associated with the regulation of specific industries and their practices.

protective or social regulation

Regulatory policies that protect the general public from activities that occur in the private sector.

Orientations to policy analysis

Scientific Approaches are the most rigorous; performed by universities to deepen the understanding of public problems. Professional approaches are objective and rigorous analysis to make decisions, not advance theory and to analyze policy options. Political Approaches are research that takes a position, still can be highly quality and are often performed by interest groups to support their positions. Rational-comprehensive is the policy of total overhaul, and major change. Incremental is limited research and limited new policy.

punctuated equilibrium model

Suggests that we can get dramatic policy change when the conditions are right. The we may have long periods in which policy stability is the norm, in part because those who dominate the policy process are privileged groups of elites who are largely satisfied with the status quo.

policy implementation

The actual development of a program's details to ensure that policy goals and objectives will be attained; it is during this part of the policy process when one sees actual government intervention and real consequences.

root causes

The basic or fundamental causes of public problems, sometimes referred to as underlying causes. Often contrasted and proximate causes.

problem

The existence of an unsatisfactory set of conditions for which relief is sought, either through private means or from the government.Commonly used in discussion of societal issues that call for a governmental response in the form or public policy.

Elite theory

The general public does not have enough information. Experts or elites dominate policy development. They can be societal leaders, bureaucrats, and gov. leaders or issue networks. Public opinion is less influential. Occurs more often for

policy change

The modification of policy goals and/or the means used to achieve them.

problem definition

The step in the policy process whereby a particular issue is defined or explained in a particular way that people can understand. Problems can be defined in a number of ways.

policy instrument

The tool, such as regulation or education, that government uses to intervene in a given problem or issue.

problem stream

The various bits or information available on a problem, whom it affects, and in what ways.

Policy Implementation

Where actual intervention is seen. Activities that put programs into effect, for example: money is spent, laws are passed, regulations formulated and put into practice. Done mostly by executive branch through regulations

Think tanks

They're policy research institutes- growing sector. Small and specialized, and large and diverse. Broad range of ideologies and ideals. Examples: Brookings institute and American Enterprise Institute. Their work helps policymakers to understand complex problems, learn ways to address problems, and understand views of interest groups.

proximate causes

Those causes of public policy problems that are most direct or immediate and sometimes easier to handle. Often contrasted with underlying, or root, causes of problems.

Why do policy analysis?

To make better policy. It informs the whole cycle to policymaking and puts an emphasis on policy alternatives. When policymaking us rushed, policy analysis gets shorted.

Method used in policy analysis

Tools: research, modeling, hearings, debate. Disciplines/perspectives: economics, political science, sociology, psychology, more.

2: policy formulation

What actions do we recommend to deal with the problem? Formal and informal actors promote desired alternatives: bureaucracy, the EOP, legislator and staff, interest groups. Debate ensues over alternative policy choices. Importance of policy analysis. Instruments of policy: regulation, gov. management, taxing and spending, market mechanisms, and education and information.

Define and analyze the problem

What is the scope and severity of the problem? Where does it occur? How did it develop? How might the problem be changing?

policy stream

What might be done about a problem- the tis, the possible alternative policies.

Construct policy alternatives

What policy options might be considered? Consider the tool available (regulation; government management; public education)

Assess policy alternatives

Which alternative is likely to be the most effective? Which combinations of policies might work well together? What impact will each course of action have on the problem?

advocacy coalition framework

a policy theory that focuses on the interactions of competing advocacy coalitions particularly within a policy subsystem, such as agriculture or environmental protection. Each coalition consists of policy actors from different public and private institutions and different levels of government that share a particular set of beliefs about the policies that government should promote.

agenda setting

a step in the policy process model whereby policy actors attempt to get an issue seriously considered for public action.

incremental decision making

a way of making decisions that emphasizes consideration of a limited number of policy alternatives and their effects.

Assessing alternatives

determining the merit of possible policy choices, often through use of policy analysis.

Choose evaluative criteria

how should we choose the proper policy actions? On what basis should we make out choice? What is an alternative likely to cost? Will the proposal be politically feasible?

5 and 6: Policy evaluation and change

often disregarded: policy outcomes. Did the policy work? Difficult to identify the goals of a program and whether they were achieved. Feeds information back into the cycle to improve policy.

Multiple approaches to policy analysis

root causes v. proximate causes: underlying issues or symptoms. comprehensive v. short term: elaborate and time consuming, or focused and brief. Consensual v. contentious: based on mainstream values or more radical. Rational v. democratic: more rigorous or focused on engaging citizens.