American Government - Public Policy | Accounting

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Study GuideAmerican Government–Public Policy1.The Policymaking ProcessPublic policyrefers to the actions the government takes to address problems and improve people’slives. At the federal level, public policies are created to:•Regulate business and industry•Protect citizens at home and abroad•Provide financial assistance to states, cities, and individuals (such as aid for the poor)•Promote important social goalsCreating public policy is not a single action. Instead, it is astep-by-step processthat moves fromidentifying a problem to possibly ending a policy altogether. These steps areagenda building,formulation, adoption, implementation, evaluation, and termination.1.1Agenda Building: Identifying the ProblemBefore the government can act, a problem must first berecognized as important. This step is calledagenda building.Some problems exist for years before they receive serious attention. For example:•Illegal immigrationhad long been an issue, but it did not become a top national concern untilthe 1990s.•Crimeis always present in society, but when crime rises sharply—or is believed to be rising—it often pushes lawmakers to act.Sometimes,specific eventsbring issues onto the government’s agenda:•A town flooding may raise questions about building homes in floodplains.•TheSeptember 11, 2001 terrorist attacksled directly to new anti-terrorism laws, such as theUSA Patriot Act.

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Study Guide1.2Policy Formulation and AdoptionOnce an issue is on the agenda, policymakers beginpolicy formulation, or deciding how to solve theproblem.Many groups can be involved at this stage:•Congress•Thepresident and executive branch•Thecourts•Interest groupsDifferent groups often proposeconflicting solutions. For example, the president may support oneapproach to immigration reform, while members of Congress from the opposing party supportanother.Policy formulation leads to a clear proposal:•Abillintroduced in Congress•Ordraft regulationscreated by a government agencyThe next step isadoption, which happens when:•Congress passes a law•A regulatory agency finalizes rules•The Supreme Court issues a decisionAt this point, the policy officially exists—but the work is not over.1.3Implementation: Putting Policy into ActionImplementationis the stage where policy is actually carried out. This step is usually handled bygovernment agencies, not the lawmakers who created the policy.Most laws only provide ageneral outline. Agencies fill in the details. For example:•Congress may pass a law to improve water quality.•TheEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)then sets specific standards and enforcementprocedures.

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Study GuideCourt decisions also require implementation. The Supreme Court, for instance, hasno enforcementpower, so other branches must carry out its rulings.A good example isBrown v. Board of Education. The Court ordered schools to desegregate butgave no clear instructions beyond the phrase“with all deliberate speed.”Because desegregationwas complex and controversial:•Federal judges had to closely monitor compliance.•Local and state school boards—many of which resisted change—played a key role.Successful implementation depends on:•How complex the policy is•Coordination among agencies and officials•Willingness to comply1.4Evaluation and TerminationOnce a policy is in place, it must beevaluatedto see how well it works. This is often done usingcost-benefit analysis, which asks:•How much money is being spent?•Are the benefits worth the cost?This analysis can be difficult because:•Reliable data may be hard to find.•Different people may interpret the same information differently.Ending a policy—calledtermination—is usually very difficult. Policies tend to continue unless:•They becomeobsolete•They clearlyfail•They lose support from the interest groups and elected officials that originally promoted themAn example is thenational speed limit of 55 miles per hour, passed in1974. The law:•Reduced traffic deaths and fuel consumption•Increased costs for the trucking industry•Was widely seen as federal overreach into state authorityBecause of these concerns, the law wasrepealed in 1987.

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Study Guide1.5Why the Policymaking Process MattersUnderstanding the policymaking process shows that government decisions take time, involve manyplayers, and often require compromise. From identifying problems to evaluating results, public policyreflects the ongoing effort to balance effectiveness, cost,and public support in a changing society.2.Politics and PolicymakingPolicymaking in the United States cannot be separated frompolitics. At every stage of the policyprocess, groups with different interests, values, and goals compete to shape outcomes. As a result,public policy often reflects compromise, conflict, and negotiation rather than a single clear vision.2.1Politics and Policy DecisionsA clear example of the political nature of policymaking is the1996 welfare reform law. The legislationwas passed by aRepublican-controlled Congressand emphasized:•Reductions in direct federal assistance•New work requirements for welfare recipientsManyDemocrats and advocacy groups for the pooropposed these changes. PresidentBillClinton, a Democrat, signed the bill only after hesitation and later stated that he would try to reviseparts of it. This example shows how policy outcomes often emerge from political bargaining ratherthan consensus.2.2Fragmented PolicymakingThe U.S. system of government encouragesfragmented policiesfor several reasons:Structural Causes•Separation of powersmeans no single branch controls policy.•Checks and balancesallow each branch to block or modify others’ actions.•Federalismdivides authority between national, state, and local governments.

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