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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Domestic Policies Domestic Tranquility Bankruptcy General Welfare
Immigration & Naturalization

6. Economic Policy
Monetary
Revenue
Fisc
Trade
Infrastructure

7. Foreign Policy Recognition Embassy Treaty & Alliance
International Agreements
Public Diplomacy

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