what focuses on the importance of formal rules and structures to the policy-making process?
institutionalism
______ combines institutionalism focus on formal rules and structures with a focus on the policy environment and organizational culture
new institutionalism
What are 3 characteristics of Weber’s bureaucracy?
neutral bureaucrats, tenured bureaucrats, hierarchical structures, professionals/expert bureaucrats
What are elements of public policy discussed in class?
demographic characteristics, geographic characteristics, political culture, social structure, economic system
the policy framework that posits that organized interests generally outperform unorganized interests
interest groups
focuses on the importance of formal rules and structures to the policy-making process
institutionalism
The examination of components of public policy or the policy process; the study of the cause and consequence of policy decisions
policy analysis
decisions by politicians, civil servants, and others granted authority that lead to the emergence of a policy that can be put into action
policy choices
choices put into action
policy outputs
the effects that policy choices and policy outputs have on citizens
policy outcomes
5 factors that influence Policy Environment
- Geographic Characteristics
- Demographic characteristics
- Political culture
- Social structure
- The economic system
official players
anyone working for government, including contractors
unofficial players
Thinktanks, Experts in academia, Lobbyists, Media, The public
public corporation
Large corporations that operate like private corporations, No profits - either goes back into treasury or into fulfilling their missions, Board appointed by government
Largest public corporation
USPS
quasi-governmental organization
Like public corporations but boards can be appointed by someone other than government (usually self appointed); Can have profits
Example of quasi-governmental organization
Amtrack
There are elite players in society, or in government, who make most of the policy decisions; these groups are exempt from downside of theories
elite theory
Shifting and realigning of coalitions and interest groups that shape policy
group theory
Formal structure, rules and procedures are what’s important for how policy is shaped
institutional theory
We all try to act in our own rational self interest, including people shaping policy, and do things that will advance self interest
rational choice theory
Debates/disagreements in society about what proper choices are and group compete to get their issue addressed; Competing over choices, outputs, outcomes
political systems theory
policy cycle
agenda setting, policy formulation, policy adoption, policy implementation, policy evaluation, policy changed/terminated
The problems which government officials feel obliged to give active and serious attention
action agenda; institutional agenda
All those matters people are talking and worrying about
discussino agenda; systemic agenda
Agenda Denial Strategies
There’s no problem, It’s not appropriate for government, It’ll be worse if government acts, It’s better solved by private means, Create a commission, Electoral activity
Anthony Downs lists five stages of an issue-attention cycle
- Pre-problem stage (lacks public attention)
- Alarmed discovery/euphoric enthusiasm
- Realization of the cost of significant progress
- Gradual decline in intensity of public interest
- Post-problem
What does IGR stand for?
Intergovernmental Relations Models
3 IGR models
Coordinate, inclusive, overlapping
IGR coordinate model characteristics
independent, autonomy
IGR Inclusive Model Characteristics
dependent, hierarchical
IGR Overlapping Model Characteristics
interdependent, negotiation
3 policy frameworks
government, politics, policy analysis
The exercise of power in society or in specific decisions over public policy
politics
The institutions and political processes through which public policy choices are made
government
instruments of public policy
law, services, money, taxes, other economic instruments, persuasion
pure public goods
exclusion is costly, negligible marginal costs (clean air, water, roads, parks)
what public officials within government, and by extension the citizens they represent, choose to do or not to do about public problems
public policy
what public officials within government, and by extension the citizens they represent, choose to do or not to do about public problems
public policy
groups involved with iron triangle
administrative agencies, intrest groups, congressional committees
Issue Networks
Heclo, issue or policy networks better describe subgovernments than in iron triangles
Iron Trianlge
comprises the policy-making relationship among the congressional committees, the bureaucracy, and interest groups, as described in 1981 by Gordon Adams