1. Policy making process

2. Public Policy
Public Policy – a government plan of action to solve a problem that people share collectively, that they cannot solve on their own, and that makes up the political agenda (issues that people believe require governmental action)
Private policy - Nongovernmental policies, adopted by individuals, businesses, or organizations to solve problems and to advance individual or group interests

3. Making public policy
Working with your partner, discuss the following question:
What are some difficulties in solving public problems?

4. Difficulties in solving public problems
Competing ideas about what constitutes a problem
Solutions are expensive
Cost – a burden that people believe they must bear if a policy is enacted
Benefit – a satisfaction that people believe they will enjoy if a policy is adopted.
Solutions generate new problems
Solutions are complex

5. Types of Policy

6. Redistributive Policy
Redistributive policy: public policies that transfer resources from one group to assist another group; shifts resources from the “haves” to the “have-nots”
E.g., Medicaid
Usually controversial
Highlights differences between how Democrats and Republicans view the role of government

7. Redistributive Policies
Redistributive policies – policies that shift resources from the “haves” to the “have-nots”
Goal – To help the “have-nots” in society
Who promotes – Public interest groups
Who benefits – Disadvantaged citizens
Who pays – Middle and upper class taxpayers

8. Distributive Policy
Distributive policy: public policies that provides benefits to individuals, groups, communities or corporations; funded by the whole taxpayer base to address the needs of a particular group
E.g., homeowner’s tax deductions
Popular because benefits go to specific group while costs are spread so widely that no one notices them
Pork barrel projects—in which legislators try to secure federal dollars to support programs in their home districts—are often associated with distributive policies

9. Distributive Policies
Distributive policies – policies funded by the whole taxpayer base that address the needs of particular group
Goal – To meet the needs of various groups
Who promotes – legislators and interest groups
Who benefits – members of interest groups and legislators
Who pays – all taxpayers

10. Regulatory Policy
Regulatory policy: public policies that limit the activities of individuals and corporations or prohibit certain types of unacceptable behavior; designed to change or restrict the behavior of certain groups or individuals
E.g., environmental policy
Goal is to protect citizens
Politics surrounding the creation of regulatory policy is highly confrontational

11. Regulatory Policies
Regulatory policies – policies designed to restrict or change the behavior of certain groups or individuals
Goal – To limit or control actions of individuals or groups
Who promotes – Public interest groups
Who benefits – public
Who pays – targeted groups

12. Who makes public policy?
Inside the system
Congress
President
Courts
Bureaucracy
Outside the system
Interest groups
Media
Public
Other?
Discussion: How do each of the above institutions “make” public policy?

13. Steps of the policymaking process
Agenda setting: public attention focuses on a public problem or issue
Policy formulation: policymakers take up the issue
Policy adoption: policymakers formally adopt a policy solution, usually in the form of law(s)
Policy implementation: staffs in government agencies are given responsibility for making the policy work
Policy evaluation: policy analysts determine whether the policy is addressing the problem and recommend changes

15. 1. Agenda Setting
Public attention focuses on a public problem or issue
Issues can be brought to Congress’ attention by:
Individual members
The president
Interest groups
Media
Opinion polls
Triggering event – an external event that puts an issue onto the policy agenda

16. 2. Policy Formulation
Policymakers take up the issues. They devise strategies to address the problem, usually in the form of a bill.
Can be proposed by the president or an administrative agency
Congressional committees determine which strategies will be brought to the floor

17. 3. Policy Adoption
Policymakers formally adopt a policy solution, usually in the form of a law or laws.
Government has solidified their approach for fixing a certain issue

18. 4. Policy Implementation
Staffs in government agencies are given the responsibility to make the policy work.
What would make implementation easier?
clear, unambiguous goals
sufficient funding and staffing
has the support of policymakers, officials, and citizens
What makes implementation difficult?
When those implementing the policy don’t agree
when it involves federal, state, and local governments

19. 5. Policy Evaluation
Policy analysts inside and outside the government determine whether the policy is addressing the problem and implementation is going well.
Does the policy address the problem?
Does it use public resources reasonably?
What could be done more effectively?
Are there any undesirable effects?

20. 5. Policy Evaluation: Costs-Benefits
Any result of a policy that puts a burden on someone or many people.
Benefits:
Any result of a policy that benefits someone or a group.
Why doesn’t this always lead to the same decisions?:
Perception
Legitimacy

21. 5. Policy Evaluation
Cost-benefit analysis – an evaluation method in which the costs of the program are compared to the benefits of the policy.
Must be able to quantify all benefits and costs
Don’t have the information to predict all possible results of a policy
Takes time to know the effects of a program
Only sees if a policy is efficient

22. 5. Policy Evaluation: Costs-Benefits
Example: Increasing Speed Limit on NC-147
10,000 People Drive on NC-147 Each Day
Benefits:
Getting to Destination Faster: $500,000/week
Fewer Speeding Tickets: $4,000/week
Costs:
Decreased Gas Mileage: - $1,000/week
Increased Accidents:
Physical Damage: - $10,000/week
Medical Expenses: - $1,000/week
Deaths???