The Policy-Making Process

Chapter 17Chapter 17
The Policy-The Policy-
Making ProcessMaking Process

Copyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage
 WHO GOVERNS?WHO GOVERNS?
1.1. Does some political elite dominateDoes some political elite dominate
American politics?American politics?
2.2. Do powerful interest groups decideDo powerful interest groups decide
what policies our government shouldwhat policies our government should
adopt?adopt?
 TO WHAT ENDS?TO WHAT ENDS?
1.1. Why are Social Security paymentsWhy are Social Security payments
popular but welfare payments to unwedpopular but welfare payments to unwed
mothers unpopular?mothers unpopular?
2.2. Why were government regulations onWhy were government regulations on
certain industries repealed over thecertain industries repealed over the
objection of those industries?objection of those industries?

Setting the AgendaSetting the Agenda
 The Legitimate ScopeThe Legitimate Scope
of Governmentof Government
ActionAction
• GroupsGroups
• InstitutionsInstitutions
• MediaMedia
 Action by the StatesAction by the States
On May Day, 2006, immigrants
demonstrated in Las Vegas and
many other cities to show their
importance in the American
economy. p. 463
Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Highway safety was always a problem, but it became a
national issue after policy advocates, such as Mothers Against
Drunk Driving (MADD), emphasized it. p. 465
Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Making a DecisionMaking a Decision
 Costs versus BenefitsCosts versus Benefits
 PerceptionPerception
 LegitimacyLegitimacy
 WhoWho willwill benefit or pay for a program?benefit or pay for a program?
 WhoWho oughtought to benefit or pay?to benefit or pay?
 Costs and Benefits may beCosts and Benefits may be
• Widely distributedWidely distributed
• Narrowly concentratedNarrowly concentrated

Majoritarian Politics: DistributedMajoritarian Politics: Distributed
Benefits, Distributed CostsBenefits, Distributed Costs
 Majoritarian politicsMajoritarian politics – A policy in– A policy in
which almost everybody benefits andwhich almost everybody benefits and
almost everybody paysalmost everybody pays
• Social SecuritySocial Security
• Military DefenseMilitary Defense
• Cancer researchCancer research
 Controversy usually overControversy usually over
cost/ideology, not rival interestcost/ideology, not rival interest
groupsgroups

Figure 17.1 The Politics ofFigure 17.1 The Politics of
Different Policy IssuesDifferent Policy Issues

Interest Group Politics –Interest Group Politics –
Concentrated Benefits,Concentrated Benefits,
Concentrated CostsConcentrated Costs
 Interest group politicsInterest group politics – A policy in– A policy in
which one small group benefits andwhich one small group benefits and
another small group paysanother small group pays
• Labor - BusinessLabor - Business
• TV Broadcasters – Cable CompaniesTV Broadcasters – Cable Companies
• Banks – Insurance CompaniesBanks – Insurance Companies
 Fought by organized interest groupsFought by organized interest groups

During the Great Depression,During the Great Depression,
depositors besiege a bank hopingdepositors besiege a bank hoping
to get their savings out. p. 468to get their savings out. p. 468
Texas high school students
protest against smoking during
an event sponsored by Teens
Against Tobacco Use, a peer-
based tobacco use prevention
program. p. 468
Topham/The Image Works
Bob Daemmrich/The Image Works

Client Politics: ConcentratedClient Politics: Concentrated
Benefits, Distributed CostsBenefits, Distributed Costs
 Client politicsClient politics – A policy in which one– A policy in which one
small group benefits and almostsmall group benefits and almost
everybody payseverybody pays
• FarmersFarmers
• AirlinesAirlines
 Pork-barrel legislationPork-barrel legislation
 LogrollingLogrolling
 LegitimacyLegitimacy

Entrepreneurial Politics:Entrepreneurial Politics:
Distributed Benefits,Distributed Benefits,
Concentrated CostsConcentrated Costs
 Entrepreneurial PoliticsEntrepreneurial Politics – A policy in– A policy in
which almost everybody benefits andwhich almost everybody benefits and
a small group pays the costa small group pays the cost
• Auto safety/antipollutionAuto safety/antipollution
• Brady BillBrady Bill
 Policy entrepreneursPolicy entrepreneurs – activists who– activists who
pull together a political majority onpull together a political majority on
behalf of unorganized interestsbehalf of unorganized interests

The Case of Business RegulationThe Case of Business Regulation
 Majoritarian PoliticsMajoritarian Politics
 Interest Group PoliticsInterest Group Politics
 Client PoliticsClient Politics
 Entrepreneurial PoliticsEntrepreneurial Politics
The Grange sought to
warn farmers of the
dangers of a railroad
monopoly. p. 472
The Granger Collection, New York

Dairy farmers get governmentDairy farmers get government
subsidies for their milksubsidies for their milk
production. p. 474production. p. 474
Entrepreneurial politics: UptonEntrepreneurial politics: Upton
Sinclair’s bookSinclair’s book The Jungle,The Jungle,
published in 1906, shocked readerspublished in 1906, shocked readers
with its description of conditions inwith its description of conditions in
the meatpacking industry andthe meatpacking industry and
helped bring about passage of thehelped bring about passage of the
Meat Inspection Act of 1906. p. 476Meat Inspection Act of 1906. p. 476
Bob Mahoney/The Image Works
Bettmann/Corbis

Perceptions, Beliefs, InterestsPerceptions, Beliefs, Interests
and Valuesand Values
 Perception of CostsPerception of Costs
and Benefitsand Benefits
 DeregulationDeregulation
• The power of ideasThe power of ideas
• Process regulationProcess regulation
• AirlinesAirlines
• TelephoneTelephone
• TruckingTrucking
 The Limits of IdeasThe Limits of Ideas
Though many economists
question the value of the
Small Business Administration,
it remains popular because it
loans money to a lot of voters.
p. 477
Bill Aron/Photo Edit

M E M O R A N D U MM E M O R A N D U M
To:To: J. Peter, assistant to the presidentJ. Peter, assistant to the president
From:From: Daniel Gilbert, special assistant to the presidentDaniel Gilbert, special assistant to the president
Subject:Subject: Department of Energy Nuclear Waste PlanDepartment of Energy Nuclear Waste Plan
The president must decide whether to sign the bill allowingThe president must decide whether to sign the bill allowing
the department to establish a safe repository for thethe department to establish a safe repository for the
nation’s nuclear waste beneath mountains in Nevada. Thenation’s nuclear waste beneath mountains in Nevada. The
waste is produced mainly by 131 commercial nuclearwaste is produced mainly by 131 commercial nuclear
reactors and by national defense weapons programs. It isreactors and by national defense weapons programs. It is
presently stored at 126 sites in over three dozen states.presently stored at 126 sites in over three dozen states.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments for:Arguments for:
1. For over 50 years, radioactive waste that remains deadly to1. For over 50 years, radioactive waste that remains deadly to
humans for 10,000 years has been accumulating in citieshumans for 10,000 years has been accumulating in cities
and towns throughout the country.and towns throughout the country.
2. According to many experts, encasing the waste in well-2. According to many experts, encasing the waste in well-
engineered tunnels beneath mountains in remote locationsengineered tunnels beneath mountains in remote locations
is both safer and more cost-effective than such alternativesis both safer and more cost-effective than such alternatives
as storing it in ocean tunnels or propelling it into space.as storing it in ocean tunnels or propelling it into space.
3. The bill achieved a bipartisan majority. Polls find that most3. The bill achieved a bipartisan majority. Polls find that most
people know little about the problem but believe thatpeople know little about the problem but believe that
something should be done to increase safety.something should be done to increase safety.

Arguments against:Arguments against:
1. The department admits that transporting nuclear waste to1. The department admits that transporting nuclear waste to
the Nevada site through dozens of states on trucks, trains,the Nevada site through dozens of states on trucks, trains,
and barges would take decades and pose safety risks.and barges would take decades and pose safety risks.
2. Some experts argue that constructing a 100-mile network2. Some experts argue that constructing a 100-mile network
of tunnels that safely stores nuclear waste in disposalof tunnels that safely stores nuclear waste in disposal
canisters for 10,000 years will prove technologically difficultcanisters for 10,000 years will prove technologically difficult
and financially burdensome.and financially burdensome.
3. The plan is strongly opposed by many elected officials in3. The plan is strongly opposed by many elected officials in
Nevada and surrounding states, and a coalition ofNevada and surrounding states, and a coalition of
environmental groups is threatening to challenge it inenvironmental groups is threatening to challenge it in
court.court.

Your decision:Your decision:
Advise president to sign?Advise president to sign?
Advise president not to sign?Advise president not to sign?

The Policy-Making Process

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The Policy-Making Process