1. Public Policy and Public Institutions
Policy (one of many definitions) “…basic decisions, commitments, and actions made by those who hold or affect government positions of authority.” [Gerston]
Public Institutions
Legislative branch
Executive branch
Judiciary
The bureaucracy
Regulatory agencies
Policy actors other than public insti-tutions????

2. Is public policy (i. e. govt
Is public policy (i.e. govt. action or non-action) “rational” or “paradoxical?”
What is rationality?
Identify a public policy that appears rational
Is rationality a necessary condition of good policy?
What is a paradox?
Identify a public policy that appears paradoxical
What accounts for the paradoxical nature of some policies?

3. Pizza and Rules
What public institutions and/or policy actors are involved in this case study?
Do the existing rules appear rational?
What (if anything) about this case appears paradoxical?
Would it be rational for the the USDA to drop the existing rules?
Does rationality depend upon particular perspectives? If so, explain.