Making Public Policy and Democracy

What did the US Constitution state regarding equality?

Not found in the Constitution until 1868 when the 14th amendment was added

Democracy's distinguishing feature

government derives its authority from its citizens

What American tradition began with the Jamestown Colony? (spread quickly to remaining colonies)

Representative Assembly - established a precedent for the future colonies - led to the House of Burgess

What system (Athenian or republic) did the founding fathers favor for the American governmental structure? Why?

Republic: to avoid any confusion between direct democracy (mob rule) and representative democracy -secured all the advantages of a direct democracy while fixing its weaknesses

What are the two extreme versions of economic power?

Socialism/Communism & Capitalism

Who coined "muckraking"

Teddy Roosevelt -in speech-took term from a book Pilgrams' Progress by John Bunyan

Describe the significance of the Mayflower Compact

developed a "Social Contract" -it protected religious freedom and make possible just and equal laws - everyone agreed to it before setting foot on land - set a precedent

What did the Declaration of Independence state regarding equality?

"All MEN are created equal" excluded women and slaves

What book represents a muckraker?

"The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair (1905)-meat packing industry (FDA created)

Muckraking

"Whistleblowers" (can be part of agenda building, "there's a problem) The term muckraker refers to reform-minded journalists who wrote largely for all popular magazines and continued a tradition of investigative journalism reporting; muckrakers often worked to expose social ills and corporate and political corruption.

Democracy root terms

"demos"-people & "kratos" - authority or power (Greek)

3. Policy Adoption

(Official Decision to accept a policy and enforce it) Solution to problem (goes through the legislative, executive, judicial, and bureaucratic means) -Judicial Review happens here - give the policy legal force -Congress Votes

5. Policy Evaluation

(Public Opinion) - review policy and determine policy's accomplishments, consequences, or shortcomings (examine various stages of the public policy process)-Impact of this stage is FEEDBACK

What are the 4 issues that are important in Public Policy making?

1. Equity (14th amendment-equal protection under the law), 2. Efficiency (benefits outweigh the cost), 3. Effectiveness (can it achieve its goal), 4. Political feasibility (politically popular)-obtain public support

What political philosopher influence Jefferson in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence

British writer JOHN LOCKE- who believed people were born with natural rights

What is the Athenian Model? How did it contribute to the definition of democracy?

Direct Democracy - citizens came together to discuss and pass laws and select their rulers (worked well for greeks - they were a city-state(polis)) -independent

What is Mercantilism?

Economic Theory designed to Export more than Import to make more money - designed to increase nation's wealth ( British saw colonies as a "natural resource")

When political power is associated with wealth, what are the 2 options

Elitism & Pluralism

Were the Founding Fathers Elitists or Pluralists?

Elitists

Define Captialism

Emphasis is on private enterprise and self-reliance (rugged individualism)

Define Totalitarian

Leaders claim complete dominance of all individuals and institutions

Define the term Repulic

Indirect Democracy (Rome) - representative democracy - citizens chose who made the laws (representatives) - elections

14th Amendment

Issue regarding Equality -protection under the law

Vote percentages

3/4 of states (plurality), 2/3 majority (senate/house), Simple Majority, 5 out of 9 judges (Supreme Court) Veto - President (doesn't vote otherwise)

What is Political Power?

A set of rules that determines whose voice will prevail

List Stages of Public Policy

Agenda Setting,Policy Formulation, Policy Adoption, Policy Implementation, Policy Evaluation

Which book is not a book about muckraking

All the President's Men - did not contribute to the public demand for govt action, just chronicled it)

How did Mercantilism impact American trade policy?

American states pushed to adopt a "Laissez-faire" policy - hands off approach to the economy

Define Socialism/Communism

Govt owns or controls most or all major industries and takes responsibility for the management of the economy

Define Sovereign

Independent

4. Policy Implementation

Goes to congress for funding and administration or application of the policies to their targets (carry out the public policy - tax for it -where to be carried out - law is enforced-military operation begins-"policy goes into effect"

What is Pluralism? (John Dahl)

Government by groups: Public policy is a result of Compromise, decided through a society of collected separate interests - want govt to respond to what most Americans want - Public Policy

What is Elitism? (C. Wright Mills)

Government by the few: rich and wellborn, should have the political power, masses are uneducated, poor, and uninterested in politics -let leaders make decisions for them - control policy for own interests - Trickle Down Economics

How did colonial assemblies become dominant forms of government in the colonies by the 1750's?

House of Burgess set precedent that would be followed by the rest of the colonies so every colony had an elected assembly that controlled government finances $$

2. Policy Formation

How do we fix it? Reaction to problem; course of action; options - development stage-formal proposal (can lose alot of support during this stage) - i.e. Health Insurance

1. Agenda Setting

Identify there is a Problem-discussion-different perspectives (i.e. gun control debate, abortion)

Other Muckrakers

Rachel Carson - Silent Spring -took on Pesticides, (EPA) Ralph Nader - Took on GM-"unsafe at any speed" Harriet Beecher Stowe - Uncle Tom's Cabin 1852 (inhumanity of slavery)

What are the two extreme versions of political power?

Totalitarian & Democratic

Define "Demagogue"

a politician who manipulates popular prejudice and fear

How did the Mayflower Compact influence political philosophy?

allowed for the development of a limited concept of government - make own laws

What is Economic Power?

alternate ways a society organizes its economy

Define Democratic

ongoing competition for power among a range of interests - Majority Rule

What issue is addressed when Economic power is the topic?

organizing the money "who holds the purse?" - how a society organizes its economics

What is public policy?

the process through which social problems are identified - there should be a reaction to the social problem-if there is -it's making "public policy" -continuous cycle

Where does the Supreme Court fit in in Policy making?

their policy adoption always follows policy implementation once the Finalization takes place (now the 4th stage can begin)

What issue is addressed when political power is the topic?

whose voice will prevail/be heard when conflict arises over resources and values