Slides

1. POL 375
Spring 2018

4.  Public policy is a course of governmental action
or inaction in response to public problems.
 Policy Inputs, Outputs, and Outcomes
 Who are stakeholders?

6.  Distributive Policies
 Provide services/benefits to particular individuals
or groups in a population
 Examples: Farming subsidies, funding for
infrastructure, schools
 Regulatory Policies
 Restrictions on limitations on behavior
 Examples: Banking, Insurance

7.  Redistributive Policies
 Shift wealth, income, property, or other resources
from one societal group to another
▪ Wealthy vs. Poor;White-Collar vs. Blue-Collar
 Material Policies
 Provide tangible resources or power
 Example: Federal grants to states for police
 Symbolic Policies
 Appeal to values (peace, patriotism)
 Examples: “Just Say No” / DARE, flag burning

9.  Step #1: Policy Identification
 Focus = Problem Definition
 Why does govt. pay attention to some issues?
▪ Time vs. Problems; Policy Agenda
 TwoTypes of Agendas:
 Institutional or Governmental Agenda
▪ Who determines issues? Pluralist vs Elitist Models
 Systemic or Public Agenda
▪ Popular support may not move issues to govt. agenda
 Agenda-Setting and “Focusing Events”

10.  Step #2: Policy Formation
 Setting goals & creating plans to accomplish objectives
 May formulate multiple policy solutions
 Step #3: Policy Adoption
 Making choice on final policy among alternatives
 Step #4: Policy Legitimation
 Occurs through public statements, executive orders,
budgets, laws, rules and regulations

11.  Step #5: Policy Implementation
 Connection between governmental intention and
getting real-world results
 Policy details are vague, so implementation is key
 Policy may be altered/changed at this stage
 Step #6: Policy Evaluation
 Potential impacts of policy are examined
 Was policy successful or not?
 Continuation, Adjustment , orTermination

13.  Discretionary Spending
 Programs and agencies funded by Congress
 Mandatory Spending:
Entitlement Programs
 Examples: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid

14.  Congress pass authorization laws before
programs and agencies get funding:
 (1) Establish or continue (re-authorize) programs
/agencies
 (2) Define functions, purposes, and operations of
programs/agencies
 Recommend (authorize) appropriations for
programs/agencies
 House initiates appropriations bills
 What is a continuing resolution?

15.  Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974
 Created House and Senate Budget Committees
 Created Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
▪ “Scores” committee legislation based on financial impact
▪ Issues financial and monetary reports
 Limited Presidential Use of Impoundment
 Created a Timetable for Authorizing and Appropriating
Funds

17.  Treaties and Executive Agreements
 Treaties Negotiated by POTUS;
Approved by Senate
 NOT Automatic – Wilson and Treaty ofVersailles
 POTUS can get around treaty process by issuing
executive agreements (non-binding)

18.  Conduct of Vietnam War by LBJ and Nixon
 Main Provisions:
 Consult with Congress before sending troops
 Report commitment of troops within 48 hours
 Terminate forces within 60 days unless Congress
intervenes(Declares war, Extends timeline, etc.)
▪ Presidents follow initial reporting guidelines
▪ Congress has failed to enforce 60-day timeline
 WPR generally ignored by White House