8 Steps of Policy Making Intro to Public Policy

Steps in Order

1) problem Identification

2) agenda building

3) policy formulation

4) policy adoption

5) budgeting

6) implementation

7) policy evaluation

8) policy succession

First Step

Problem Identification

2 most important things in problem identification (stage 1)

1) setting a clear definition - defining clearly what the problem is

2) perception - defined as registering or receiving an event

Step 2

Agenda Building

Agenda building is the stage where

after identifying an issue, the issue is discussed and seriously considered among policy makers

3 streams that arise in stage 2 (agenda building)

1) political stream - includes public opinion, recent elections, swings in public mood

2) problem stream - problem identification stage emerges

3) policy stream - consists of when both policy makers and members of a community voice their proposals

Point at which streams meet, which is critical for passing policies

Window of Opportunities

Third stage

Policy Formulation

Policy formulation is the stage at which

remedies for the problems are formulated and determined. also considered "policy analysis".

limits to policy formulation (3 A's)

have to be

1) affordable

2) available

3) acceptable

Policy formulation also contains what tools and goals can be used

tools include

1) inducements

2) rules

3) rights

4) powers

5) facts

6) provisions of powers

goals include:

1) security

2) liberty

3) efficiency

4)equity

5) welfare

The fourth step is

Policy Adoption

Policy adoption is the stage when

there is an emergence and acceptance of a proposal

Possible adopters can include (4)

Congress

The President

Courts

Bureaucracy

Adoption can occur in 1 of 4 ways

1) Legislation - bills being passed

2) Executive orders and agreements

3) agencies can adopt them via regulations

4) judicial action

5) Budgeting

Where it is determined how funds will be allocated within the proposed policy

Budgeting often utilizes three committees

1) Budgets

2) Authorization

4) Appropriations

Budget Committees

set targets for expenditures and revenues by passing a budget resolution

Authorization Committees

reauthorize or authorize programs; set MAX that can be spent

Appropriation Comittees

sets FINAL budget and what WILL be spent

entitlements are included in budget, they are ____?

a legal obligation to award benefits to those who meet the established criteria

6) Implementation

a legal obligation to award benefits to those who meet the established criteria

________s are how programs are enforced, can go into an existing one or create a new one.

Organization

7) Policy evaluation

analyze how well the policy has done its job

Under Policy evaluation: Systematic

generally considered to be the best; logic and facts

Under Policy evaluation: Impressionistic or Nonsystematic

uses simple surveys, case studies; tendency to value emotion over data

Policy Succession

what happens next to the policy?

3 choices

1) leave unchanged

2) modification

3) termination