GOVERNMENT AND POLICY MAKING The Rule Making Function

G OVERNMENT AND P OLICYMAKING Policymaking is the pivotal stage in the political process. To understand public policy, we must know decisions are made. Government agencies are at the core of policymaking. Two-way process: Upward flow of influence and demands from society Downward flow of decisions from the government

S TRUCTURES OF THE P OLITICAL S YSTEM

F UNCTIONS OF THE P OLITICAL S YSTEM

C ONSTITUTIONS AND D ECISION R ULES A constitution establishes the basic rules of decision-making, rights, and the distribution of authority in a political system. Written constitutions important in political systems based on the rule of law Constitutions contain sets of decision rules. These are the basic rules governing how decisions are made. Policymaking - the conversion of social interests and demands into authoritative public decisions. Constitutions establish the rules by which this happens. Constitutions confer the power to propose policies on specific groups and institutions.

C ONSTITUTIONS AND D ECISION R ULES Decision rules determine what political resources are valuable in influencing decision how to acquire and use these resources. Different decision rules have different attractions. Inclusive rules (majority rule; cooperative rule) Can protect against hasty decisions But they can also give a minority the power to block proposals favored by a majority The more inclusive the voting rules are the less likely it is that any decision can be made at all. Less inclusive rules make it easier to reach a policy, but many interests may be ignored.

C ONSTITUTIONS AND D ECISION R ULES The government (as a whole) and its component institutions have decision rules. Numerous rules affect the policymaking process. In modern assemblies rules about voting - egalitarian rules; one person, one vote Dictatorships - decision making is hierarchical P ure hierarchy: only the vote of the person at the top counts Democracy favors decision rules that are transparent and stable. W hen decisions are made through equal voting, the inclusiveness of the decision rule still shapes the outcome.

D EMOCRACY AND A UTHORITARIANISM The most important distinction in policymaking is between democratic and authoritarian systems. Democracy means government by the people. Direct or indirect participation by the public Institutions facilitate indirect participation: elections, competitive political parties, free mass media, representative assemblies Authoritarian regimes - policymakers are chosen by military councils, hereditary families, dominant political parties and the like. Citizens are either ignored or pressed into symbolic assent.

BASIC DECISION RULES OF POLITICAL SYSTEMS - BOTH DEMOCRATIC AND AUTHORITARIAN - DIFFER ALONG THREE IMPORTANT DIMENSIONS : The separation of powers between different branches of government The geographic distribution of authority between the central (national) government and lower levels, such as states, provinces, or municipalities Limitations on government authority

S EPARATION OF G OVERNMENT P OWERS Theory of separation of powers Locke and Montesquieu Madison and Hamilton Classic separation of powers theory Argued there are two forms of representative democratic government Presidential Two separate agencies of government: executive and legislative Separately elected and authorized by the people Fixed terms; cannot unseat the other branch; each with specific powers Coordination must be achieved to make policy Parliamentary Executive and legislative branches are interdependent Legislative branch directly elected; prime minister and cabinet emerge from the legislature Confidence relationship Do not experience the form of divided government that is common under presidentialism

S EPARATION OF G OVERNMENT P OWERS Not all democracies fit neatly into the presidential or parliamentary category. France- “semi-presidential” In some mixed types, the president and the legislature are separately elected, but the president has the power to dissolve the legislature. In such systems, the cabinet may be appointed by the president, but subject to dismissal by the legislature. Debates have emerged as to the “best” system.

G EOGRAPHIC D ISTRIBUTION OF G OVERNMENT P OWER Confederal - U.S. under the Articles of Confederation Federal - U.S., Germany, Russia, India, Nigeria, Mexico, and Brazil Unitary - Britain, France, China, Japan and Iran Most of the world’s states are unitary Only 18 states are federal

G EOGRAPHIC D ISTRIBUTION OF G OVERNMENT P OWER Federalism is commonly thought to have several advantages: In culturally divided societies it may help protect ethnic, linguistic, or religious minorities, particularly if they are geographically concentrated. Serve as a check on overly ambitious rules and thus protect markets and citizen freedoms May allow subunits to experiment with different policy programs But it promotes choice and diversity at the expense of equality. Sometimes there is a discrepancy between formal and actual federalism: Mexico

L IMITATIONS ON G OVERNMENT P OWER Constitutional regimes Civil rights protected Courts are crucial to the limitations on governmental power. Judicial review Lijphart characterizes only four of the 36 democratic systems he examines as having “strong” judicial review. Often in constitution but harder to implement in practice Amending procedures Vary widely

C HECKING THE T OP P OLICYMAKERS Challenge: control the excesses of the top political leaders Authoritarian systems: problematic Representative Democracies: procedures vary between types of systems Parliamentary system: removed virtually at any time Presidential system: impeachment Associated with constitutions having powerful presidencies with fixed terms of office Direct Ultimate control of democratic order is periodic and competitive elections. Direct Democracy – the people as the check

A SSEMBLY F UNCTIONS Deliberate, debate, and vote on policies that come before them. Control public spending decisions (sort of) Some have important appointment powers. Some may serve as a court of appeals. Range in terms of their role as policymaking agencies: U.S. - highly active role; National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, rubberstamp function Assemblies should not be viewed only as legislative bodies.

F UNCTIONS OF THE C HIEF E XECUTIVE Typically the most important structure in policymaking The executive normally initiates new policies. May have role in adoption Typically has veto powers Oversees policy implementation Recruitment function Conduct affects trust and confidence in the political system Central role in communication, in explaining and building support for new policies Improving the performance in various sectors of society and economy

P OLITICAL E XECUTIVES In modern states, the executive branch is by far the largest, the most complex, and typically the most powerful branch of government. Chief executives Single or split Divided between effective power over policy, purely ceremonial roles or both Presidents and Prime Ministers Chairman of the Communist Party in China Monarchs Advantages the split system

R ECRUITMENT OF C HIEF E XECUTIVES Recruitment structures Competitive party systems Noncompetitive parties and military organizations Authoritarian systems rarely have effective procedures for leadership succession. Poorer nations show substantially less stability and the regimes have usually had less experience at surviving succession crises. African nations: repeated coups

T HE C ABINET In some political systems, the Cabinet is the most important collective decision-making body. Very powerful in parliamentary systems Selection Presidential systems: presidential prerogative with legislative approval; President can dismiss Cabinet members; legislature severely limited in this area Parliamentary systems: formation depends on the result of parliamentary elections and on the composition of Parliament Majority single-party cabinet Coalition cabinet