Recording-2025-03-13T11:35:52.162Z

Rulemaking Authority

• Definition: Rulemaking authority refers to the power given to executive branch agencies to create rules and regulations that implement laws passed by Congress.

• When Congress passes a law, it often lacks detailed specifics, meaning that executive agencies fill in the gaps.

• These agencies effectively hold legislative powers through the ability to create regulations.

• Oversight Power of Congress: If Congress disagrees with the rules made by these agencies, it can:

  • Call the agencies in for oversight hearings.

  • Amend the original legislation to clarify the law.

Bureaucratic Structures

• Government Corporations: Government-operated entities that do not operate for profit. Examples include:

  • U.S. Postal Service: An independent government corporation that could potentially be privatized.

  • Amtrak: Another major government corporation.

Policymaking Foundations

• Agenda Setting: The process of prioritizing issues by political parties, especially evident during party conventions every four years when platforms are established:

  • Addressing the major problem and proposing potential solutions starts the policy process.

Steps in the Policymaking Process

1. Agenda Setting:

   • Identify issues that need addressing. Example: A dangerous intersection near a school prompts the need for safety improvements.

2. Policy Formulation:

   • Develop different strategies to solve the identified problem. Example: Instituting a four-way stop, adding speed bumps or a crossing guard.

3. Policy Adoption:

   • Engage with stakeholders, such as city council members, to legitimize the proposed solutions.

4. Policy Implementation:

   • Execute the approved policy through practical measures, such as installing traffic signs and markings.

5. Policy Assessment:

   • Evaluate the effectiveness of the policy. Surveys may reveal if the policy solved the original problem or led to new issues.

   • This cyclical nature underscores the continuous effort in public policy. Each step can take significant time and involve various levels of government.

Voting Rights Act of 1965 and Subsequent Changes

• Problem: Discrimination against African Americans in voting processes.

  • Mechanisms employed included literacy tests designed to disenfranchise voters.

• Key Supreme Court Case: Shelby County vs. Holder

  • Resulted in the removal of the preclearance requirement for certain states, indicating shifts in voting laws.

Changes in Voting Laws Post-Shelby County

• Introduction of Voter ID Laws:

  • Justified by minimizing voter fraud, though data shows the occurrence of fraud is minuscule.

  • Affects marginalized communities disproportionately as they face barriers in obtaining IDs due to resource limitations.

Regulation and Deregulation of Businesses

• Agencies create regulations to maintain order and safety, while deregulation involves lifting restrictions to ease burdens on businesses, often favored by Republican lawmakers.

  • Regulations can increase costs for businesses due to compliance requirements.

Reforms to the Bureaucracy

• Examples from the 1990s include initiatives to cut costs and streamline the effectiveness of government (e.g., Clinton's Reinventing Government program).

Historical Political Landscape**

• Evolution of party roles:

  • Democrats become associated with civil rights in the 1960s; notable figures include John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.

  • Democrats adapt to incorporate conservative ideals in the late 20th century, focusing on efficiency and government size reductions.

Interest Groups and Policy Networks

• The concept of iron triangles (the relationship between congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups) is evolving into issue networks, reflecting dynamic interactions among various stakeholders in policymaking.