1. Theories of Public Policy
Elite Theory- The chosen few or elite make all – important decisions in society
Pluralist Theory- Simply too many interest for any one interest to dominate. (Elitist theory is impossible)
Interest Group Theory- grouped with pluralists, recognizing the priority of one particular set of goods. Interest groups are the key actor because of this.
Bureaucratic Theory- Complex world of bureaucracy empowers bureaucrats because we can’t see all that goes on within a certain area of policy

2. Policy Making Process Recognition Agenda Setting Policy Formation
Policy Adoption
Budgeting
Implementation
Evaulation

3. Recognition Acknowledging and defining a problem
Government Responsibilities
Child abuse throughout the ages
Defining the Problem
Transportation of people with disablities
Transportation problem or Civil Rights Problem?
Defined as a Civil Rights Problem
Americans with Disabilities Act

4. Agenda Setting Systematic Agenda Governmental Agenda
A discussion agenda of all issues that are seen as meriting public attention
Governmental Agenda
Only problems to which legislators or public officials are obliged to devote serious time too
Who decides what gets on the Agenda for public policy?

5. Policy Formulation
Crafting of appropriate and acceptable courses of action to ameliorate or resolve a public problem
Who does this?
All of the actors in the Political Spectrum
Policy Adoption- How a bill becomes a Law

6. Budgeting
Some times policies are not funded or under funded so they cannot function
Housing and Urban Development only has funds to provide 20% of the eligible low income families rent subsidies

7. Policy Implementation
The process of carrying out public policy through governmental agencies and courts
4 Techniques
Authoritative
Incentive
Capacity
Hortatory

8. Policy Evaluation
The process of determining whether a course of action is achieving its intended goals
GAO- Government Accountability Office