pc and public policy 2

8/12/2019 PC and Public Policy 2

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Project Citizen and

Public Policy

We the People Project Citizen

Center for Civic Education


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Project Citizen and the

Policy-making Process

Project Citizen takes kids out of the world oforderly boxes and precise diagrams and intothe universe of issues and policies that floatin and out of the policy-making arena. Inshort, Project Citizen is intended as a hands-on description of what comes out of the

political process. Its not particularly neat, butit is an approach to explaining how politicallife really works.


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A Working Definition of Public Policy

the study of what governments do,why they do it, and what difference itmakes.

Thomas Dye

the sum of government activities,

whether acting directly or throughagents, as it has an influence on thelives of citizens.

G. Guy Peters


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A Working Definition of Public Policy

the combination of basic decisions,

commitments, and actions made by

those who hold or affect governmentpositions of authority.

Larry N. Gerston


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Public policy

issues are the

passengers

that move off

and on the

wheels of

government.

Larry Gerston


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Constants of Public Policy

Issues that appear on the public agenda

Actors who present, interpret, and respond

to those issues

Resources affected by those issues

Institutions that deal with issues

Levels of government that address issues


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Public policy can be

Substantive- major rearrangements ofpublic resources or values; e.g., tax reform,school uniforms

Symbolic- policies that tend to provide morepsychological relief than actual change in thepolitical system; e.g., legislation against flag

burning Sometimes substantive issues are addressed

by symbolic responses.


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Levels of Government

National

State

Local[County, City, Town/Village,School Board, etc.]

Public Policy Environments


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Who are the players in

public policy making?Public policy issues gain their status when

they reach the eyes and ears of government

actors. The process is initiated by: Individuals

Interest Groups

Media

Government


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Public

institutions

are the

vehicles

throughwhich public

policies are

formulatedand carried

out.


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Which public institutions

address public policy issues? Executive Branch - The President can sign executive

orders, send weapons or US troops to other countriesin crisis situations.

Legislative Branch - State legislatures make policywith the hundreds of statutesor lawsit enacts eachyear.

Judicial BranchFederal, state, and local courtsestablish policy through interpretat ion of th e law.

Bureaucracy - A collection of agencies designed tocarry out relatively speci f ic tasks, is commonlydescribed as the 4thbranch of government.


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What is a triggering mechanism?

A triggering mechanism identifies andclarifies emerging issues. They tend to

remain hidden from view, as theirmomentum builds behind moreobservable daily events. Triggeringmechanisms become important to the

political process when they draw theattention of the public and public policy-makers.


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The Value of Triggering

MechanismsTriggering mechanisms as catalysts for

public policy stem from the interaction of

four factors:

Scope

Intensity

Time Horizon

Resources


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Scope-the number of people affected by

the triggering mechanism. If an event

has widespread implications for asizable sector, then the demand for

action will have a broad base

(quantitative).

Intensity-the extent to which people are

bothered by an event. If something

concerns the public (especially bringingfear or anger), then policy-makers are

more likely to respond to it (qualitative).


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Time Horizon -The length of time

during which a critical event unfolds.Sometimes long time, sometimes

instantaneous (duration)

Resources - The capital at stake ina conflict or potential policy-making

setting; not always money, may be

values..


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Examples of Triggering Mechanisms

The Great Depression

Discovery of raw sewage in Santa MonicaBay

Tobacco deaths

Diminished tax resources

HIV/AIDS

Violence on school campuses

The Internet

The bombing of the World Trade Center

and Pentagon


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INPUTS

Demands

Supports

DECISION

MAKING

BLACK BOX

Policy MakersExecutives

Legislature

Courtsetc.

(any level)

OUTPUTS

[Laws, Court

Decisions,Executive Orders]

Rewards

Deprivations

Outcomes

[Implementation]

Feedback

[Evaluation]

Policy Making

Process


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The Policy Making Environment is

Constantly Changing

Non-political developments may becomepolitical issues

When the dispute over resources and values

becomes part of the public agenda

When they reach critical mass as trigger

mechanisms. For example,

stem cell research, originally a scientific

breakthrough, becomes a public policy issue.

cell phones, originally a communications

development, become a political issue for

drivers.

pc and public policy 2

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