Chapter 17 The Policy- Making Process

Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHO GOVERNS? WHO GOVERNS? 1.Does some political elite dominate American politics? 2.Do powerful interest groups decide what policies our government should adopt? TO WHAT ENDS? TO WHAT ENDS? 1.Why are Social Security payments popular but welfare payments to unwed mothers unpopular? 2.Why were government regulations on certain industries repealed over the objection of those industries?

Warm-up WWYD pg ube.com/watch? v=IoNNIPC0Euc ube.com/watch? v=IoNNIPC0Euc ube.com/watch? v=IoNNIPC0Euc ube.com/watch? v=IoNNIPC0Euc What is public policy What is public policy Copyright © 2011 Cengage

How they Set the Agenda 1. shared political views (poverty ex.) 1. shared political views (poverty ex.) 2. weight of custom and tradition (accept what is customarily done in gov’t) 2. weight of custom and tradition (accept what is customarily done in gov’t) 3. impact of events (wars/depression) 3. impact of events (wars/depression) 4. changes in how political elites talk/think about politics 4. changes in how political elites talk/think about politics Copyright © 2011 Cengage On May Day, 2006, immigrants demonstrated in Las Vegas and many other cities to show their importance in the American economy. p. 463 Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The Legitimate Scope of Government Action Always getting larger/illegitimate gov’t gets smaller “big gov’t” 1930s Always getting larger/illegitimate gov’t gets smaller “big gov’t” 1930s During war “people expect gov’t do anything to win” During war “people expect gov’t do anything to win” Economy bad/expect gov’t to do something Economy bad/expect gov’t to do something Copyright © 2011 Cengage

The Legitimate Scope of Government Action Groups  many policies are a result of small groups (organized labor/minorities Groups  many policies are a result of small groups (organized labor/minorities Institutions  Courts/Bureaucracy/ Institutions  Courts/Bureaucracy/ Senate  ex. School desegration/abortion Senate  ex. School desegration/abortion Media  Help place new matters on the agenda or publicize those already on it/coal mining! Copyright © 2011 Cengage

Highway safety was always a problem, but it became a national issue after policy advocates, such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), emphasized it. p. 465 Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Making a Decision Costs versus Benefits Costs versus Benefits Cost  burden people believe they must bear if a policy is enacted Cost  burden people believe they must bear if a policy is enacted Benefit  satisfaction people believe they will enjoy if a policy is adopted Benefit  satisfaction people believe they will enjoy if a policy is adopted Perception  Who do people think will pay (vehicle admission test) Perception  Who do people think will pay (vehicle admission test) Copyright © 2011 Cengage

Majoritarian Politics: Distributed Benefits, Distributed Costs Majoritarian politics – A policy in which almost everybody benefits and almost everybody pays Majoritarian politics – A policy in which almost everybody benefits and almost everybody pays Social SecuritySocial Security Military DefenseMilitary Defense Cancer researchCancer research Controversy usually over cost/ideology, not rival interest groups Controversy usually over cost/ideology, not rival interest groups Copyright © 2011 Cengage

Figure 17.1 The Politics of Different Policy Issues Copyright © 2011 Cengage

Interest Group Politics – Concentrated Benefits, Concentrated Costs Interest group politics – A policy in which one small group benefits and another small group pays Interest group politics – A policy in which one small group benefits and another small group pays Labor - BusinessLabor - Business TV Broadcasters – Cable CompaniesTV Broadcasters – Cable Companies Banks – Insurance CompaniesBanks – Insurance Companies Fought by organized interest groups Fought by organized interest groups Copyright © 2011 Cengage

During the Great Depression, depositors besiege a bank hoping to get their savings out. p. 468 Texas high school students protest against smoking during an event sponsored by Teens Against Tobacco Use, a peer- based tobacco use prevention program. p. 468 Topham/The Image Works Bob Daemmrich/The Image Works

Client Politics: Concentrated Benefits, Distributed Costs Client politics – A policy in which one small group benefits and almost everybody pays Client politics – A policy in which one small group benefits and almost everybody pays Farmers (cost consumers/taxes/higher food prices)Farmers (cost consumers/taxes/higher food prices) Airlines (restricted competition)Airlines (restricted competition) Pork-barrel legislation Pork-barrel legislation Logrolling—>Congress trades votes to get support from members in an area Logrolling—>Congress trades votes to get support from members in an area Copyright © 2011 Cengage

Entrepreneurial Politics: Distributed Benefits, Concentrated Costs Entrepreneurial Politics – A policy in which almost everybody benefits and a small group pays the cost Entrepreneurial Politics – A policy in which almost everybody benefits and a small group pays the cost Auto safety/antipollutionAuto safety/antipollution Brady BillBrady Bill Policy entrepreneurs – activists who pull together a political majority on behalf of unorganized interests Policy entrepreneurs – activists who pull together a political majority on behalf of unorganized interests Copyright © 2011 Cengage

The Case of Business Regulation Majoritarian Politics  Majoritarian Politics  Laws passed to express Views of a majority Of voters Copyright © 2011 Cengage The Grange sought to warn farmers of the dangers of a railroad monopoly. p. 472 The Granger Collection, New York

Interest Group Politics 1935 labor unions sought government protection for their right to organize, bargain 1935 labor unions sought government protection for their right to organize, bargain Wagner Act  Est. National Labor Relations Board regulate union conduct of unions/hear complaints about unfair labor practices Wagner Act  Est. National Labor Relations Board regulate union conduct of unions/hear complaints about unfair labor practices Copyright © 2011 Cengage

Dairy farmers get government subsidies for their milk production. p. 474 Entrepreneurial politics: Upton Sinclair’s book The Jungle, published in 1906, shocked readers with its description of conditions in the meatpacking industry and helped bring about passage of the Meat Inspection Act of p. 476 Bob Mahoney/The Image Works Bettmann/Corbis

Client Politics A group of people receive subsidies A group of people receive subsidies Need to be viewed as “deserving client” Need to be viewed as “deserving client” Ex. Farmers  receive subsides to grow crops ($171 billion) Ex. Farmers  receive subsides to grow crops ($171 billion) Copyright © 2011 Cengage

Perceptions, Beliefs, Interests and Values Perception of Costs and Benefits=here and now argument Perception of Costs and Benefits=here and now argument Deregulation Deregulation The power of ideas Process regulation Airlines Telephone Trucking Copyright © 2011 Cengage Though many economists question the value of the Small Business Administration, it remains popular because it loans money to a lot of voters. p. 477 Bill Aron/Photo Edit

M E M O R A N D U M To: J. Peter, assistant to the president From: Daniel Gilbert, special assistant to the president Subject: Department of Energy Nuclear Waste Plan The president must decide whether to sign the bill allowing the department to establish a safe repository for the nation’s nuclear waste beneath mountains in Nevada. The waste is produced mainly by 131 commercial nuclear reactors and by national defense weapons programs. It is presently stored at 126 sites in over three dozen states. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments for: 1. For over 50 years, radioactive waste that remains deadly to humans for 10,000 years has been accumulating in cities and towns throughout the country. 2. According to many experts, encasing the waste in well- engineered tunnels beneath mountains in remote locations is both safer and more cost-effective than such alternatives as storing it in ocean tunnels or propelling it into space. 3. The bill achieved a bipartisan majority. Polls find that most people know little about the problem but believe that something should be done to increase safety. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments against: 1. The department admits that transporting nuclear waste to the Nevada site through dozens of states on trucks, trains, and barges would take decades and pose safety risks. 2. Some experts argue that constructing a 100-mile network of tunnels that safely stores nuclear waste in disposal canisters for 10,000 years will prove technologically difficult and financially burdensome. 3. The plan is strongly opposed by many elected officials in Nevada and surrounding states, and a coalition of environmental groups is threatening to challenge it in court. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Your decision: Advise president to sign? Advise president not to sign? Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?