Issues & Policies in US Politics Module 8.3: Current Federal Policies

Public Policy Revisited laws, decisions, actions & standard procedures carried out by government to pursue a stated goal or objective May be described according to general functions Typically involves a policy “target” Generally developed according to Rational Choice/Decision theory Identified by distinct policy issue areas Domestic Foreign Economic Defense Specific policies may overlap issue areas Domestic Foreign Economic Defense

Views of Public Policy Tactical Policy Operational Policy Addresses a specific issue or set of specific issues e.g. aid to Shah Reza Pahlavi from the 1950s to the 1970s Operational Policy Addresses ways and means of addressing a specific issue or set of issues e.g. supply airdrops to Reza Pahlavi’s private army Strategic Policy Establishes a framework for understanding connections among policies and other decisions e.g. The Containment Policy of the 1950s-1970s Operational Policies must support relevant Strategic Policy in order to be adopted

Hypotheses An operational policy is less likely to be understood by political actors if levels of strategic knowledge are low An operational policy is more likely either to lose support or to fail if it is inconsistent with or does not support a strategic policy

Domestic Policies Domestic Tranquility Bankruptcy General Welfare Immigration & Naturalization

Economic Policy Monetary Revenue Fisc Trade Infrastructure

Foreign Policy Recognition Embassy Treaty & Alliance International Agreements Public Diplomacy

Defense Policy Common Defense Civil Defense (Homeland Security) Intelligence Military Affairs Warfare