- How are policy agendas formed? Include of interactions and dynamics among actors, interests, institutions, and processes in the discussion.
- Trace the enactment of public policies by Congress and the president
- Discuss the implementation and interpretation of policies by the bureaucracy.
- Discuss the implementation and interpretation of policies by the courts in the policy process.
- Investigate and describe policy networks and issue networks in at least three domestic policy areas.
- Investigate and describe policy networks and issue networks in at least three foreign policy areas.
- Identify and describe the impact of federalism on policy processes and policymaking in the federal context.
- Identify and describe the impact of interest groups on policy processes and policymaking in the federal context.
- Identify and describe the impact of political parties on policy processes and policymaking in the federal context.
- Identify and describe the impact of elections on policy processes and policymaking in the federal context.
- Political agendas are formed when a problem is identified. This often happens when an interest group or issue networks, groups where they have expertise in a subject even though they can be from any party, contacts the government, mainly congress. The issue networks are more easily penetrable than the iron triangle and therefore are a better representation of the country, even though it makes it seem that policymaking making is too responsive to the demands of small groups, being therefore undemocratic. Congress responds by drafting a policy which they will attempt to implement, and refine.
- Policymaking begins with agenda setting which is when a problem is defined as a political problem. This can be done by either congress, the president, or by the courts (when they make a ruling that indicates a new law must be created). Next is policy formulation which is when possible solutions are developed in proposals and then their is the decision which, if any, will be adopted. This step involves a great deal of cooperation between the branches as the executive and legislative must work to figure out what they both think is best for the country and those that will be affected by the law. Next is implementation in which congress gives orders to other officials at different levels to make sure the law is carried out correctly. For example, this would mean notifying businesses of new rules or regulations that the law includes. Next is policy evaluation when programs are analyzed to discover how well they work in practice. This results in feedback which can lead to new items being put on the political agenda. Often times, this will lead to programs being continued, expanded, changed or cut.
- Since the bureaucracy is the agencies and committees of the executive branch, they are the ones will be in charge of the implementation of a new policy. Their main job is to inform people who will be involved in the changes that they have to make a change. For example, when it became policy that all businesses needed to be handicap accessible it was the bureaucracy's job to express these new regulations to all of the locations that the policy would apply to. The bureaucracy often can delay this process if they dislike the new policy, which is their way of inflicting their interpretation of it, even though it is not entirely direct, especially in comparison to the courts.
- The court is involved when a new law is made, they insure that it is constitutional. This can occasionally allow for a loose interpretation of the constitution since most policies are created to fit the needs of a changing citizenry and may not be closely related to anything directly stated within the constitutions. They are the main source of interpretation as examples of implantation are brought before them and it is their decision as to the proper way of putting the policy into action. They are able to set important precedents into place that not only can affect that law, but may influence new topics to become part of the political agenda.
- Policy or issue networks are groups of people that are knowledgeable in an area even though they may not have the same beliefs. Often these networks are nonpartisan because they do have different viewpoints on the same topics. They aren't limited to congressmen, officials, and committee members though because they are often a broad group of people, containing scholars, lobbyists, and lawyers as well. Healthcare: congressmen on subcommittees in the house and senate along with doctors, and other people in the pharmaceutical field, along with citizens who benefit from government run insurance like Medicare or Medicaid. Environment: EPA, those on committees and subcommittees, lawyers and lobbyists that are working in court cases for clean energy/stricter regulations, science scholars. Education: people in the department of education, congressmen of committees in both houses, local board members of school districts and teachers.
- Policy networks are the same as previously described. Terrorism: those in the Department of Defense, high ranking officials in the military, congressmen that are part of Homeland Security or related committees, or anyone who is educated enough to speak on such matters. Human rights/treatment: NATO, some international committees and prominent groups that work with the people of foreign lands but are based in the United States. Trade: Can be involved in by a wide range of people (practically all business that do participate in overseas trade), along with lobbyists, lawyers and congressmen from the Foreign Investment Committee.
- Federalism adds diversity to public policy. Since federalism is the separation of powers, it is what breaks down programs to different sources. Often the federal government gives money to the states that they can distribute at their own discretion since all states have different needs that they must fulfill. Once the money is passed into the hands of the local government, they are able to apply the funds to the particular areas that need it. Since this is the case, the system for public policy becomes highly complex in nature as it tailors to all of the individual needs. It can even lead to conflicting laws that the states and federal government handle differently (like the legalization of marijuana).
- Interest groups often have a large hand in public policy making, to the extent that many people believe laws are biased toward only these groups. Activism within these systems works to alert congress about issue that american people are having which leads to agenda setting. Once something is identified as a problem, it is more likely to get the attention that it requires. If a policy is created and doesn't work out well, these groups will again be active in notifying congress of any grievances they may have, working in part to strengthen and refine the programs. Since larger groups of people are likely to have more sway, these groups are prominent since the more people that have a single issue, the more important it becomes to solve that problem.
- Political parties often slow down policymaking in congress. For example, Obama Care is supported by the democrats with more resistance from the republican party. Due to the division on this policy, it makes it more difficult to pass into law because the GOP sees how radical of a change in health care it will cause and would try to work against it, the same as the GOP members in the bureaucracy would later do during implementation. This delays the process as the two groups have to work to find a compromise. The main problem with parties when it comes to policy making is that some people may vote with their party because of their strong identification even if may not be the most beneficial option for the public.
- Elections, mainly reelections, are one of the driving forces that cause congressman to enact certain policies. Even though they can throw in things like pork barrel spending and pet projects that benefit their constituents, they often work on large projects that will get them positive publicity. Since incumbents have franking privilege, they will want to have supported important policies that they can later brag about to those who will be voting them for another term. Also, when presidents especially are voting in by a large majority, they are considered to have a mandate to carry out the things they promised throughout their campaign which often include public policy that the people of the United States are likely to find agreeable and important.