The document outlines the 5 key steps in the policymaking process: 1) identifying problems, 2) formulating policy proposals, 3) legitimizing public policy, 4) implementing the policy, and 5) evaluating the established policy. It discusses how problems come to light from various sources, who formulates policy proposals, how policies gain legitimacy, the challenges of implementation, and different methods for evaluating existing policies.

1. THE MAKING OF GOVERNMENTAL POLICY
CHAPTER 8

2. THE POLICYMAKING PROCESS
1. Identify problems
2. Formulate policy proposals
3. Legitimize public policy
4. Implement the policy
5. Evaluate the established policy

3. IDENTIFY PROBLEMS
 Problems may come to light from a variety of sources
 “Squeaky wheel gets the grease” – demands for government action
lead to pinpointing the problem
 Questions to ask:
 Is there a problem?
 Can we do something about it?
 Is there a population to help? Is there a need?

4. IDENTIFY PROBLEMS
 Who calls attention to a problem, issue or need?
 Organized groups
 Non-profits agencies
 Politicians
 Think tanks
 Lobbyists
 Ordinary citizens
 Interest groups
 What are other sources?

5. IDENTIFY PROBLEMS
 Political Ideology.
 Conservative.
 Defender of status quo
 Opposes big government and their regulation of the economy
 More in favor of local/state government regulation and involvement than
federal.
 Look for government to be fiscally responsible (balanced budget, reduction
of debt and expenditures)
 Republican Party

6. IDENTIFY PROBLEMS
 Political Ideology.
 Liberals.
 Government should be involved in the lives of its citizens (in a positive
way)
 Distributive justice. Allocation of goods and services in a way that benefit
all members of society; same with costs as well as rewards.
 Concerned with the outcome as it pertain to equity, equality, power, need
and responsibility.
 Democratic Party

7. IDENTIFY PROBLEMS
 Political Ideology.
 “Moderate” Democrats and “Moderate” Republicans drift away from
partisan beliefs on some issues. A.k.a Centrists
− Abortion, Gay rights, Government assistance and social services
 See the Clinton presidency

8. IDENTIFY PROBLEMS
 Political Ideology.
 Democratic Socialism. Believe that both the economy and society
should be run democratically—to meet public needs, not to make
profits for a few (dausa.org).
 Do not want big corporate bureaucracies to control society
 Tea Party movement – a.k.a. “moral majority” or “religious right
 Reduce size of government, protecting free markets, ending deficit spending and
promoting civic responsibility

9. IDENTIFY PROBLEMS
 Political Ideology.
 Libertarians. Limited government involvement, mostly just
police/military protection.
− Supporters of open markets and capitalist government
− No government involvement in personal matters unless it threatens the lives of
others
 Independents.
− No affiliation with any political party
− Vote by candidate based on issues and personal beliefs

10. IDENTIFY PROBLEMS
 Political Ideology.
 Green Party. Care primarily about social justice, environmentalism,
civil liberties and nonviolence
 Follow “green politics” aka. “ecopolitics”
 Found worldwide
 Party Affiliation in the U.S.

11. IDENTIFY PROBLEMS
 Special Interest groups. Created to influence the political agenda.
 Represent populations based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual
orientation, age, income, profession, etc.
 Sometimes 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
 Often created to educate the public or bring attention to an issue
that affects the public

12. IDENTIFY PROBLEMS
 Special Interest groups.
• Political action committees (PACs)
• Can support candidates
• Super PAC
• Cannot give money to candidates
• Can spend money on issues
• Registered lobbyists
• Churches and religious groups

13. IDENTIFY PROBLEMS
 Special Interest groups.
• Civil and human rights organizations
• Unions and Corporations
• Proxy Group
• Represent the disadvantaged and disenfranchised populations: poor, disabled,
homeless, victims of sexual assault and rape, etc.
• National Association of Social Workers, Children’s Defense Fund, PETA, National Alliance
to End Homelessness, American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Watch, etc.
• Grassroots organizations

14. IDENTIFY PROBLEMS
 Public Opinion and Mass Media.
 How does Mass Media affect public opinion?
 Liberal media
 Private interests
 Sensationalizing of issues
 Why do politicians care about how the media influences public
opinion?
 Why do politicians care about public opinion?

15. FORMULATING POLICY PROPOSALS
 Policy Proposals – initial presentations are drafted by policy-
planning organizations, interests groups, state legislatures,
government agencies, the president and Congress
 Proposals normally include problem statement, proposed solution,
possible implementation challenges, funding needs, etc.
 Often go through numerous versions before policy is pushed on to
next phase

16. LEGITIMIZING PUBLIC POLICY
 Legitimizing occurs by public statements or actions of people in
power
 Ex. governors, representatives, the president, agency
administrators, etc.
 What gets look at first often correlates with the current political
climate
 Political climate = current national mood
 What issues are en vogue right now?

17. IMPLEMENTING PUBLIC POLICY
 All the steps that need to take place after a policy becomes law
 Implementation is part of policymaking because attempts to oppose
the policy continue while its being implemented
 By delaying the process of implementation often by suing in court
 See every one of Trump’s E.O.
 Healthcare reform, planned parenthood, etc.
 Politics and administration cannot be separated

18. EVALUATING WELFARE POLICY
 Government’s interest in whether policy is working
 Political fallout from policy evaluations
 Disputes over how to conduct those evaluations
 Disagreement over what they mean
 What are some ways to evaluate a policy?

19. EVALUATING WELFARE POLICY
 Concept and design
 Who is using the program? Receiving services?
 May use proxy measures (how many people are walking through the door?
Taking a pamphlet?
 Monitoring – look at the process and progress of the program
 Impact and utility – Assessment the benefits to individuals, groups,
and society
 Efficiency – assess cost-benefit