ch 2.

What is Public Policy?

  • A statement of goals and intentions regarding specific problems, often with accompanying plans or instructions.

  • Can originate from governmental actors (executives, legislatures, public agencies) or non-governmental actors (nonprofit organizations, corporations).

  • Decision makers address a range of issues including health, education, foreign affairs, economy, civil rights, etc.

  • Public policy reflects the decisions made by agencies or networks on what actions to take or avoid.

Policy Process

Overview

  • Public and nonprofit organizations are key players in implementing and shaping public policy.

Phases of Policy Process

  1. Agenda Setting

    • Major issues must gain attention from decision makers first to be prioritized.

    • Factors determining agenda include public interest and urgency of problems, e.g. AIDS in Africa.

    • Influencers include the president, Congress, interest groups, media, and the public.

  2. Policy Formulation

    • Development of formal policy statements such as legislation and administrative rules.

  3. Policy Legitimation

    • Grants legal force to decisions; can be simple (approved by authority) or complex (requires broad public acceptance).

  4. Policy Implementation

    • Activities directed towards executing a program; involves interpreting vague legislation.

    • Public managers often have discretion in defining implementation details.

  5. Policy Evaluation & Change

    • Assessing policy effectiveness against goals; methods include cost-benefit analysis.

    • Continuous evaluation leads to potential policy changes, expansions, or eliminations.

Types of Public Policy

  1. Regulatory Policy

    • Limits actions for public protection; ensures regulation against crime and monopolies.

  2. Distributive Policy

    • Benefits individuals or groups funded by taxes.

  3. Redistributive Policy

    • Takes from one group to benefit another, often viewed as aiding the disadvantaged at the expense of the advantaged.

  4. Constituent Policy

    • Benefits the public or governs government operations (e.g. Total Quality Management approaches).

Role of Public Organizations

  • All sectors are involved in executing public policy and shaping it; proposals and expert advice are critical.

Bureaucratic Power in Policy Process

Sources of Influence

  1. Expertise

    • Knowledge in specific areas provides agencies with significant power.

  2. Legislatively Vague Laws

    • Grants discretion in interpretation and implementation of policies.

  3. Flexibility in New Issues

    • Adaptation to changing conditions is crucial, often requiring rapid action without new laws.

  4. Sub governments

    • Collaborative relationships between agencies and interest groups can enhance influence and support.

Political Context of Public Administration

Interactions with Government Branches

  1. Executive Branch

    • Executive orders shape administrative actions significantly.

    • Use of high-level appointees (e.g., czars) to manage specific policy issues is common; raises concerns about concentration of power.

    • Administrative organizations (Executive Office of the President, cabinet departments) support federal governance.

  2. Legislative Branch

    • Legislative control through structural mechanisms, oversight, and casework.

    • Structural control includes legislative vetoes, sunset laws, and sunshine laws ensuring transparency.

  3. Judicial Branch

    • Reviews agency actions for compliance with laws and appropriateness; ensures discretion is used fairly.

    • Judicial review checks agency actions against constitutional and statutory standards.

Key Points on Agency Actions

  • Quasi-Legislative Actions: Establishing rules that guide future actions.

  • Quasi-Judicial Actions: Agencies adjudicate cases, ensuring fair treatment based on established guidelines.

  • Excessive or Insufficient Discretion: Balancing discretion is crucial; too much can lead to arbitrary decisions, too little may hinder effectiveness.

Judicial Review

  • Courts may overturn agency decisions if they exceed authority, are arbitrary, or violate due process.

  • Example: The Council of State in Egypt may review administrative actions to ensure compliance with legal standards.