Domestic Policy

Chapter 17

Public Policy

Public Policy is an intentional course of action or inaction followed by government in dealing with some problem or matter of concern.

These policies are on people

Those who don’t comply can be penalized through fines, loss of benefits and even jail terms.

Theories of Public Policy

Elite Theory

Bureaucratic Theory

Interest Group Theory

A Model of the Policy-Making Process

The stages of the processProblem recognition and definition

Agenda setting

Policy

Policy

Budgeting

Policy implementation

Policy evaluation

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There is rarely an agreed upon definition of a problem.

How the problem is defined will help determine what sort of action is .

Political parties and interest groups battle over the definition and recognition of a problem.

Problem Recognition and Definition

Agenda Setting

Once a problem has been defined, it must be brought to the attention of public officials and placed on the agenda.

Agenda setters include: the , interest groups and political crises.

The president uses the State of the Union, his and key speeches to push his agenda.

Crises like 9/11 and the crisis have affected the agenda in recent years.

Policy formulation/adoptionThese two steps are the most time consuming.

Legislators, the president, interest groups and government agencies work together to try to create a policy that can be adopted.

Usually the legislation is , making only marginal changes to existing policy

The funding of a policy can determine its effectiveness.

Public policy is generally implemented by government agencies ( )

The agencies are often given due to their expertise in that area.

Congressional committees have the power of oversight and control over the budgets of the agencies.

Budgeting/Policy Implementation

Policy Evaluation

The process of determining whether a course of action is achieving its intended goals.

Sometimes a program is judged to be good simply because it is politically popular or fits the ideological beliefs of an elected official.

- conducts hundreds of studies a year on the viability of programs and agencies.

The Evolution of Health Policy

LO 17.2: Describe the evolution of health policy in the United States.Medicare – for disabled and over

Medicaid – for

Health InsuranceNational health insurance first considered in 1930s.

Most people use single-payer private healthcare system.

Costs are rapidly increasing.

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Public Health

From AIDS to obesity, public policy makers have attempted to use government power to fight threats to the nation’s health.

Tools employed by the government include: immunizations, education, advertisements, and regulations.

Public Health

Government sponsors research at National Institutes of Health.

Government plays a major role in public health management.

LO 17.2

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The Evolution of Education Policy

LO 17.3: Outline the evolution of education policy in the United States.

The Foundations of Education Policy

Originally each state determined educational policies

From school houses to education

Role in political socialization in a democracy

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How did Title IX change education?

Title of the Education Amendments of 1972 greatly expanded educational and athletic opportunities for

women. As a result of these gender equity requirements, women's lacrosse is one of the fastest

growing collegiate sports.

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The No Child Left Behind Act

NCLB intends to promote

results-oriented accountability

state and local flexibility in use of national funds

proven methods of achieving high-quality education outcomes

school choice

LO 17.3

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The Evolution of Energy and Environmental Policy

LO 17.4: Explain the evolution of energy and environmental policy in the United States.

20th century cheap fossil fuels and economic boom

Smog and other environmental problems emerge

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The Foundations of Energy and Environmental Policy

Energy policyBy 1970s, U.S. dependent on foreign oil

Oil embargo crisis.

Government set conservation and efficiency standards; creates DOE

Environmental policyNational Environmental Policy Act of 1970

Clean Air Act of 1970

Clean Water Act of 1970

Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974

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Energy and Environmental Policy Hibernates

Reagan champion of deregulation 1981 National Energy Policy Plan, ended the price and allocation controls on crude oil and petroleum

Bush and Clinton do little with exception ofClean Air Act of 1990

Energy Policy Act of 1992

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Energy and Environmental Policy Returns to Prominence

9/11 energy policy central to national security

Increasing concern about global warming– Kyoto Protocol in 1997– States take the lead in environmental

policy.

LO 17.4

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