1CHAPTER 1POLICY ANALYSIS: WHAT GOVERNMENTS DO, WHY THEY DO IT, ANDWHAT DIFFERENCE IT MAKESCHAPTER OUTLINE AND SUMMARYI. What Is Public Policy?A.Public policy examines what governments do, why they do it, and what difference itmakes.B.Definition of PolicyPublic policy is defined as what governments chose to do or chose not to do.C.Policy Expansion and Government GrowthThe size of government can be measured in relation to the size of the economy. Asgovernment has grown in the last century, the scope of public policy has also expanded.D.Scope of Public PolicyThe scope of public policy is reflected in government spending but also includesregulatory activities whose costs are not shown in government budgets.II. Why Study Public Policy?A.Political science goes beyond an understanding of governmental institutions and processes.It also includes public policy, which focuses on the causes and consequences ofgovernment actions.III. What Can Be Learned from Policy Analysis?Policy analysis is finding out what governments do, why they do it, and what difference, ifany, it makes.A.DescriptionThe first step of policy analysis consists of careful description of current policy.B.CausesHaving described the components of a given public policy, policy analysis then moves tothose factors that impact public policy.C.ConsequencesFinally, policy analysis includes an examination of the effects of public policy.IV. Policy Analysis and Policy AdvocacyA.Policy analysis is contrasted with policy advocacy: policy analysis seeks to explain,while policy advocacy prescribes actions. Policy analysis is a prerequisite to advocacy.V. Policy Analysis and the Quest for Solutions to America’s ProblemsPreview Mode
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