Public Policy

1
Public Policy

• Issues and Politics

2
Introducing Policy Language

• Issues
• Defining the problem
• When are issues public problems?
• Alternatives
• Value conflicts
• Power Structures
• Symbolism and symbolic politics

3
Theories and Approaches

• Theories describe, explain and, in some cases,
  predict.
• Grand Theories and middle-range theories.
• Policy praxis

4
Examples from the reading

• Rational Choice Theory
• Incrementalism/Bounded rationality (root/branch)
• Stages model
• Subgovernment (policy monopoly)
• Advocacy Coalition
• Punctuated Equalibrium

5
Policy Change

• The United States Constitutional System is
  conservative (favors the status quo). How does
  policy change occur in a system that makes it
  much easier to block change than foster change?
• The attacks of September 11, 2001

6
What are policy processes?

• The Policy Cycle or policy stages model are
  often explicitly or implicitly employed by
  political scientists in the study of public
  policy.
• Issue identification
• Agenda setting how do issues reach public and
  policy agendas?
• Alternative specification designing and
  evaluating policy alternatives (policy proposals)
• Enactment adoption of policies by authoritative
  bodies or officials.
• Policy implementation putting the policy in
  place.
• Policy evaluation assessing impacts and
  suggesting changes.
• See Birkland, Chapter 9

7
Pre-decisional stages

• The Policy Cycle or policy stages model are
  often explicitly or implicitly employed by
  political scientists in the study of public
  policy.
• Issue identification.
• Agenda setting how do issues reach public and
  policy agendas?
• Alternative specification designing and
  evaluating policy alternatives (policy proposals)

8
Kingdons Model
9
Key language -JK

• Process Streams
• Coupling
• Open window
• Policy Entrepreneur
• Policy Communities

10
Thomas BirklandFocusing Event, Mobilization,
and Agenda Setting
11
Other language that may be helpful in addressing
this case

• Technical Feasibility
• Value acceptability
• Best Practice(s)
• Venue shopping
• Expansion and containment of conflict
• E.E. Schattschneider

12
The policy cycle and real problemspolicy
praxis

• Des Moines Town Meeting Addresses Methamphetamine
  Abuse Epidemic in Iowa

13
From issues to policies the road is rarely
straight

• www.drugabuse.gov/NIDA_Notes/ NNVol13N6/Iowa.html

14
The Study and Practice of Public Policy
(Birkland)

• The approach can be scientific and
  rigorous(3).
• The study of policy is firmly grounded in the
  study of politics (3).
• The nature of evidence (12).
• How important is evidence (18).

15
What is Public Policy?

• Thomas Birklands discussion pp. 20-21.
• Discussion of definitions

16
What is in the News?

• Applying language to real issues.

17
Next Week
18
Case Study Exercise

• Welcome to the Waterville Community MeetingSara
  Weir, City Manager, Waterville, Pa.
• As community members and policy analysts the city
  welcomes your suggestion for addressing the
  pressing problem of drug abuse and Waterville.
• What are your recommendations to the city
  council?