POL 101: Responsible Citizenship Policy Process

I.Policy Analysis and Process III.Agenda Building/Problem Recognition IV.Agenda Formulation/Policy Formulation V.Agenda Adoption/Policy Adoption VI.Agenda Implementation/Policy Implementation VII.Agenda Evaluation/Policy Evaluation

Policy Analysis and Process “Policy Analysis is finding out what governments do, why they do it, and what difference, if any, it makes.” (Dye 2008: 4). Policy Making Process/Policy Analysis 1.Agenda Building/Problem Recognition 2.Agenda Formulation/Policy Formulation 3.Agenda Adoption/Policy Adoption 4.Agenda Implementation/Policy Implementation 5.Agenda Evaluation/Policy Evaluation

Agenda Building/Problem Recognition This is getting your idea on the agenda; someone recognizes that there is a problem that needs to be solved and government can help. John Kingdon called opportunities for problem recognition or agenda building “policy windows” where an event allows people to see a problem in society and there is a move by groups to “fix” the problem. Examples: HIV epidemic, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina

Questions surrounding agenda building: 1)Should government act? 2)Who is responsible for situation? 3)Who is involved with the agenda?/What is the definition of the problem and who defines? 4)What causes the problem being addressed (and will policy address the causes)? 5)What are the consequences or impacts of taking action? What works??? Agenda Building/Problem Recognition

Agenda Formulation/Policy Formulation Area where public debate happens over the issue; democracy and discourse Involvement of interest groups and special interests related to policy; political science discusses the impact of iron triangles and issue networks for these groups Questions: Who has access to debate? Whose voice will be heard? Which solutions should be considered?

Agenda Formulation/Policy Formulation Iron Triangles Association of congressional committees (or legislative committees), interest groups/policy advocates, and agencies that center on an issue. The involvement of various people in this arrangement is often ongoing due to the nature of policy; sunset regulations make the committees review policy based on time and standards.

Agenda Formulation/Policy Formulation Iron Triangles Congressional committees give interest groups/policy advocates a policy and agencies a budget and directive. Interest groups/policy advocates give testimony and support to congressional members and agencies. Agencies provide policy and feedback based on advocate and committee needs.

Agenda Formulation/Policy Formulation Iron Triangles Congressional subcommittee Interest group/policy advocate Agency

Agenda Formulation/Policy Formulation Iron Triangles EXAMPLE: Subcommittee on Bio-Diesel (Ethanol) Farmer’s Union, Corn Producers of America, Oil Producers, Sierra Club FDA, USDA, EPA

What are issue networks and how are they different from iron triangles? Issue networks are more open, fluid groupings of actors attempting to influence policy Issue networks take some aspect or problem to focus on (not the bigger involvement like iron triangles) Issue networks may not be permanent or cohesive; end when issue passes? Increasing... Internet allows more networking! Agenda Formulation/Policy Formulation

Questions: 1.Who has access to debate? 2.Whose voice will be heard? 3.Which solutions should be considered?

Agenda Adoption/Policy Adoption Use to be called the “BLACK BOX;” things went into the process and came out as a law or policy. Essentially, the politics involved with adopting a law or how a bill becomes a law.

How a bill becomes a law Introduced in House Introduced in Senate Referred to House committee that holds hearings Referred to Senate committee that holds hearings If committee passes, back to House floor for vote If committee passes, back to Senate floor for vote House and Senate confer to reach compromise on bill

How a bill becomes a law If committee passes, back to House floor for vote If committee passes, back to Senate floor for vote House and Senate confer to reach compromise on bill House and Senate pass new version of bill President signs or vetoes bill; Congress can override with 2/3 vote

Agenda Implementation/Policy Implementation When the policy is put into motion; action taken by bureaucracy/agency to put policy into effect. Discretion, or the individual actions to enforce or not enforce policies, has a direct connection to policy effectiveness. Questions related to policy effectiveness: 1.How well is the policy defined? 2.Does the policy really address the problem?

Agenda Evaluation/Policy Evaluation Feedback loop in the process; sometimes can be decades, years, months depending on how quickly needed Study to see what worked and what didn’t work Questions to ask about evaluation: 1.What criteria are used to determine the evaluation? 2.Who determines the criteria to evaluate the policy effectiveness?