PubPol 101

Public Policy

A stable course of government action.

Difference between public policy and law

Public policy consists of strategies created under formal legislative processes that can be legally enforced, while law refers to rules made through formal legislative processes that are legally binding.

Law

A form of public policy that is legally binding.

Policy Analysis

The process of defining a public problem and assessing possible responses.

Five steps of policy analysis

1) Define Problem, 2) Identify options, 3) Predict consequences, 4) Compare tradeoffs, 5) Recommend actions.

Framing

The central story you are telling about the problem, which shapes the policy options we consider.

Condition

A description of what’s happening in a specific context.

Bardach’s Eightfold Path

A policy analysis framework consisting of eight steps: 1) Define Problem, 2) Assemble Evidence, 3) Construct Alternatives, 4) Select Criteria, 5) Project Outcomes, 6) Confront Trade-offs, 7) Decide, 8) Tell Story.