Governments

Public Policy
Role

The Constitutional
Framework

_________________ (leg & exec)

Provide Defense
Regulate Commerce

___________

Protect Basic Rights, Rule on Fed law

__________

Infrastructure & social welfare

__________
Protect rights in state constitutions
Rule on state law

The Constitutional
Framework
Over time the Federal role has ________
Regulation of health and safety (FDA,
CPSC, OSHA)
Regulation of Fraud (FTC, Postal
Service, FCC)

State role is still large

State rules often stricter than federal

rules

Why would/wouldnt a state want to

regulate more strictly than Feds?

Other Constraints on
Policy

Ideology

Should government be involved in this

type of issue?

Differences of Opinion
Is there really a problem?
Is the problem likely to be fixed or
made worse by government?
How should the problem be solved?

The Public Policy Process

Stages of Policy Development
Pre-Policy Development
Policy Adoption
Policy Implementation
Policy Evaluation

Pre-Policy Development

__Recognition of a Problem__

___Demand for Action____

Public becomes aware/alarmed

Policymakers are asked to do something

__Formulation of an Agenda___
The reality of the ease/cost of dealing
with the issue becomes known
Issue is addressed/prioritized
Issue may make it to the decision agenda

Will Issue Get on Decision

Agenda?
Leadership push

Is leadership interested in the issue?

Issue Coalitions

Are interest groups in favor or against?

Media Attention

Has media been reporting on the problem?

Political Timing

Is the political atmosphere ripe for action?

Policy Adoption
Identify the Problem
Establish Context, Assemble Evidence
Delineate the Problem

Identify & Analyze Potential Solutions

Identify Alternatives
Predict Consequences (Intended,
Unintended)

Choose Best Solution(s)

Maximize net benefits (benefits-costs)

Policy Implementation
___Pick Effective Date____

Often up to one year after policy is

adopted

___Assign Resources _____ for

Enforcement

Inspectors, prosecutors, administrators

__Notify affected persons___

Regulation: Federal Register, media
outreach
Law: Congressional Quarterly Pubs, media

Policy Evaluation
Ideal, but rarely done internally
Where is evaluation done?
Media
Academics
Think Tanks
Interest Groups
External Government Agencies
Why doesnt govt do much internal evaluation?
No incentives to do so, advance careers

The Role of External

Agencies

___Government Accountability Office (GAO)____

Upon request by Congress, performs an

independent analysis of proposed or existing
programs

___Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)_____

Office in the White House that reviews all major

regulations developed by executive branch agencies

What incentives do these agencies give

government managers? Checks and Balances