AP Government Policy Making Text Chapter 15
Policy Making and Public Policy 5-15% A. Policy making in a federal system B. Formation of policy agendas C. Role of institutions in policy enactment D. Role of bureaucracy and courts in policy implementation and interpretation E. Linkages between policy processes and: political institutions and federalism, political parties, interest groups, public opinion, elections, and policy enactment F. Public policy making in the following areas: Foreign and Defense Policy, Health Care Policy, Economic Policy, Environmental Policy, and Social Welfare Policy, including, for each, the background, major players, key policy initiatives, and current policy issues.
What is Policy Making? An intentional course of action followed by the government in dealing with some problem or matter of concern. Public policies are governmental policies based on law, authoritative, and dbinding on people. PASS OUT NOTES 2 sets and 1 quiz
Theories on Public Policy Elite Theory-The chosen few or elite make the important decisions on society. The elite have the power and the masses
Theories on Public Policy Bureaucratic Theory all institutions have fallen under the control of a large and ever growing bureaucracy that carries out policy using standardized di d procedures.
Theories on Public Policy Interest Group theory- Interest groups control the governmental process, NOT government or the bureaucracy. There are so many potential pressure points in the 3 branches as well as at the state level, that Interest groups can step in in any number of competing sides.
Theories on Public Policy Pluralist theory contends that the political resources are scattered so widely that no single elite group could ever gain a monopoly control over any substantial area of policy. The notes on the next slides are 7 The notes on the next slides are 7 steps that are in the first packet of notes
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 environment groups identify acid rain as a problem
Problem Recognition and Definition ** A finding that the policy is ineffective will likely l restart t the policy process. For a condition to become a problem, there must be some criterion- a standard or value- that leads people to believe that the condition does not have to be accepted and the government can deal with it effectively and appropriately.
A Model of the Policy- Making Process 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 national policy agenda.
What is an Agenda? An agenda is a set of issues to be discussed or given attention. Every political community, national, state and local has a systematic agenda. Systematic agenda is a discussions agenda
A governmental or Institutional agenda Only problems to which legislators or other public officials feel obliged to devote active and serious attention
A Model of the Policy- Making Process 3. Policy Formulation Identification of alternative approaches to 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.
Policy Formation The crafting of appropriate and acceptable proposed courses of action to resolve public problems
A Model of the Policy- Making Process 4. Policy Adoption The formal selection of public policies through legislative, executive, judicial or bureaucratic means. EXAMPLE Provisions for an emissions trading system to reduce acid rain are included in the Clean Air Act of 1990
Policy Adoption The approval of a policy proposal by the people with requisite authority such as a legislature or chief executive
A Model of the Policy- Making Process 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
Budgeting Most policies require money in order to be carried out. Appropriations. Some policies such as those providing income security essentially involve the transfer of money from taxpayers to the government and back to the individual beneficiaries.
A Model of the Policy- Making Process 6. Policy Implementation The actual administration or application of public policies i 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.
Policy Implementation The process of carrying out public policies that were implemented by administrative agencies
A Model of the Policy- Making Process 7. Policy Evaluation The determination of a policy s accomplishments, consequences and short comings. EXAMPLE In time there will be evaluation of the emissions trading system to determine its effectiveness in reducing acid rain ** A finding that the policy is ineffective will likely restart the policy process.
Policy Evaluation Practitioners of policy evaluation seek to determine what a policy is actually accomplishing. Is it fair? Is it efficient?
Governments and Economic Markets Philosophies on the role of government Laissez-faire i Hands off TAFT Intervention-active involvement- CARTER Market Structures Free- no interference Mixed- some interference Controlled- Total regulation
Reasons for intervention Efficiency of production and distribution of goods Redistribution of goods Creation/production of public goods Regulation of monopolies Preparation of information on designated topics
Types of government intervention SUBSIDY TOOLS List and see outline notes. REGULATORY TOOLS List and see outline notes TOOLS OF REGULATORY AGENCIES List and see outline notes
Political influences on regulation Regulatory capture hypothesis Congressional choice hypothesis Obama- Wall Street and banking industry
Political Influences on deregulation Carter Reagan Bush sr.
Government control of the economy Monetary policy Theory Manipulate supply of money Control Inflation and deflation Federal Reserve Board
Government control of the economy Fiscal policy Theory Manipulate federal taxation spending and borrowing Obstacles to government control of the economy. See notes for list. Areas for government s economic policy making LIST in Notes Pass out Ch. 16 review packet and quiz
Government control of welfare Debate Conservatives vs. Liberals Entitlement programs EVERYONE List Means tested-determination by prescribed measures List Pass out the Ch. 17 packet of notes and quiz and the Aiding Victims of society packet
Government control of Health care Current problems Costs rising DISCUSS
Government control of energy and the environment NOTES See previous packet of notes and quiz As well as Alternative Energy. DISCUSS Obama campaign and going green
Government control of Foreign Policy Makers President and Congress Pass out the Ch. 18 Foreign and Military policy notes and quiz Pass out the Defining the National g Interest packet
Foreign Policy Defined A nation s foreign policy is made up of all the stands and actions that a nation takes in every aspect of its relationships with other countries. The President, the nation s chief diplomat and commander in chief of its armed forces, has traditionally carried the major responsibility for both the making and conduct of foreign policy.
The State Department The State Department is headed d by the secretary of state, who ranks first among the members of the President s Cabinet. An ambassador is a personal representative appointed by the President to represent the nation in matters of diplomacy. The State Department issues passports, certificates issued to citizens who travel or live abroad. Diplomatic immunity is usually applied to ambassadors and means that they are not subject to the laws of state to which they are accredited.
The Defense Department This chart shows the chain of command of the American military services.
The Military Departments The Department of the Air Force The air force is the youngest branch of the armed services. The air force s main responsibility is to serve as the nation s first line of defense.
The Military Departments The Department of the Army The army is the largest and the oldest of the armed services. The army consists of standing troops, or the Regular Army, and its reserve units the Army National Guard and Army Reserve.
The Military Departments The Department of the Navy The navy s major responsibilities are for sea warfare and defense. The U.S. Marine Corps, p, a combat- ready land force, are under the auspices of navy command.
Foreign Policy From Independence Through World War I As stated in George Washington s Farewell Address, for the next 150 years the United States practiced a policy of isolationism. The Monroe Doctrine (1823) warned Europe to stay out of the affairs of North and South America and established the United States as the hegemonic power of the Western Hemisphere. Throughout the nineteenth century, the United States expanded across the North American continent through both land purchases and acquisitions through war. As the United States expanded commercially in the late nineteenth century, so did the reach of its foreign policy, as seen in the Good Neighbor policy in effect in Latin America during the early 1900s, and the Open Door Policy for China during the same time.
World War I and World War II World War I The United States entered World War I after continued disruptions of American commerce due to German submarine warfare. After the defeat of Germany and the Central Powers, the nation retreated to a policy of isolationism. World War II The bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 signaled the United States entry in World War II, joining the Allies (Russia, Great Britain, and China) fighting against the Axis Powers (Italy, Japan, and Germany). World War II led to a historic shift away from isolationism to an increased role in global affairs by the United States.
Two New Principles Collective C security, approached by the United States t following World War II, involves a world community in which h most nations would agree to act together th against any nation that threatened the peace.
Two New Principles Deterrence Deterrence is the policy of making America and its allies so militarily strong that their very strength will deter discourage, or even prevent any attack.