Understanding the Politics of Public Policy

7/29/2019 Understanding the Politics of Public Policy

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Understanding the Politics

of Public Policy


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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


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Models of Public Policy

Elite theory

Group theory

Institutionalism Rational choice theory

Political systems theory

Policy process model


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Policy Process Model

Policy Cycle

Problem definition/Agenda setting

Policy formulation

Policylegitimation

Policyimplementation

Policy evaluation

Policy change


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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 onthe government agenda currently?


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Streams of Agenda Setting

Problem stream

Policy stream

Political stream

Opportunity foragenda items


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Explanations for Agenda Setting:

Problems, Politics, Participants

Problems

mandated items

magnitude of problemfocusing events (e.g., Sept. 11, Love Canal)

relationship to symbols

absence of private meansspillover 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 salience is LOW

Level of conflict is HIGH Crime, Gun control 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/staffinterest groups


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Policy Legitimation

Appropriateness of government action

Important for garnering support

Deals w/two major issuesSubstance 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 ofmaking 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 FederalRegister

Opportunity for interest parties to submit

comments

Consideration of comments and response to thecomments 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

Understanding the Politics of Public Policy

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