Understanding the Politics of Public Policy

Outline
Models and theories of public policy Policy process model

problem definition and agenda setting policy formulation policy legitimation policy implementation policy evaluation/policy change

Instruments of public policy Policy typologies

Models of Public Policy

Elite theory Group theory Institutionalism Rational choice theory Political systems theory Policy process model

Policy Process Model Policy Cycle

Problem definition/ Agenda setting
Policy change

Policy formulation

Policy evaluation

Policy legitimation

Policy implementation
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Problem Definition
Often

difficult to define a problem What is a current problem? Why is it a problem? Definition is based on your own perspective Whos involved?
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Agenda Setting

Systemic vs. government agenda

systemic: public is aware of and may be discussing government: considered to be those issues and problems that policymakers are addressing at a certain time

What issues would you consider to be on the government agenda currently?

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Streams of Agenda Setting

Problem stream

Policy stream

Opportunity for agenda items

Political stream
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Explanations for Agenda Setting: Problems, Politics, Participants

Problems
mandated items magnitude of problem focusing events (e.g., Sept. 11, Love Canal) relationship to symbols absence of private means spillover impacts analogy to other problems
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Explanations (contd)

Politics
political process change
change in administration, public opinion, etc.

Visible participants (entrepreneurs)

president and staff congressional leadership media interest groups
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Explanations: Saliency and Conflict

Influences on Agenda Setting

Level of salience is HIGH Level of conflict is HIGH Crime, Gun control

Level of salience is LOW WORST CHANCE Abortion rights

Level of conflict is LOW

BEST CHANCE Airline safety

Pork-barrel projects (e.g., research grants, water projects)

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Policy Formulation
Debate over alternative policy choices Importance of policy analysis Actors provide their preferred positions Whos involved

bureaucracy, EOP legislature/staff interest groups

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Policy Legitimation
Appropriateness of government action Important for garnering support Deals w/two major issues

Substance of the policy Process of adopting the policy

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Policy Implementation
Where actual intervention is seen Activities that put programs into effect

money spent laws passed regulations formulated

Done mostly by executive branch through regulations

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Implementation
Its important to recognize that when executive branch agencies implement policy, they are often MAKING LAW. How can this be? Delegation of Authority/Power

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Delegation of Authority
Legislature confers upon an administrative agency lawmaking power that it could exercise itself. Raises important constitutional issues Why would Congress do this?

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Why Does Congress Delegate? Two Models

Good Government Model "Nonpolitical" officials Experts in area Discretion and Flexibility Shift-the-Responsibility Time and Resource Avoid the responsibility of making a "bad" decision Serve the constituency through casework

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Bureaucratic Discretion
Delegation has given agencies more leeway in determining the policies that they are implementing. How do we control these agencies and their power?

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Limits on Discretion

Administrative Procedures
Scientific and Economic Decision Rules Congressional and Presidential Oversight

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Administrative Procedures
Administrative Procedure Act (1946) -- setup procedures to deal with the shortcomings of delegation. Important Components
Right to seek judicial review Rules to develop regulations (informal rulemaking)

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Informal Rulemaking
Also called notice-and-comment Requires three major steps

Notice of intended rulemaking in the Federal Register Opportunity for interest parties to submit comments Consideration of comments and response to the comments in the final rule.
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Economic/Scientific Analysis
Things such as: Risk Assessments Peer Review Cost-Benefit Analysis Role of OMB

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Presidential Oversight
Appointment Power Budgetary Power Reorganizations Guidelines for Enforcement Executive Orders

E.O.s 12291 and others

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Congressional Oversight
Committee Hearings Budgetary Power Investigations (GAO) Informal (phone calls, letters, etc.) Enactment of a statute Deadlines Legislative Vetoes
ruled unconstitutional in INS v. Chada

Police Patrol vs. Fire Alarm Oversight

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Policy Evaluation and Change

Step often disregarded in process Difficult to identify the goals of a program and if they were achieved Different types of impacts

direct vs. indirect short-term vs. long-term

Hopefully, will feed information back into the policy process

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Instruments of Policy
Regulation Government management Taxing and spending Market mechanisms Education and information

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Lowi Policy Typology

Distributive policy
individualized grants and programs

Redistributive policy
one gains from anothers loss

Regulatory policy
government restriction of choice

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