Public Policy

AP Comparative Unit VI

Policymaking

Definition The conversion of social

interests and demands into authoritative public decisions

What does that mean? The final stage in the political

process The point at which bills become

law, or edicts are issued by the rulers, whoever they are...

Policymaking Question to Ponder…

What does it take to change public policy? _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

Policymaking Question to Ponder…

What does it take to change public policy? A majority vote The approval by independent elections

executive A decree by monarch, military

commission, or politburo The choice of dictator

Policymaking Players and Roles

Roles of the Institutions of Government While parties and interest group work at articulating and

aggregating interests, government officials, legislators and their staffs do most of the actual implementation and formulation of policy proposals

Institutions of government: pass laws, regulations Government agencies: Implementation (the core of

policymaking) Interest groups: express demands

2-way process Upward flow of influence and demands Downward flow of decisions from the government Iron triangles and issue networks

Power and Policymaking

Where is power effectively located in the different political systems? Parliamentary systems Consociational Democracies Corporatist Democracies Constitutional Regimes Majoritarian Regimes Legislative Assemblies

Parliamentary Systems

Generally are fairly stable governments responsible to the public will Advantages

Plurality voting rules with clear party majorities in Parliament with a cabinet and PM responsible to

Works well with countries with an ethnically and religiously divided population because it provides a consensual framework in which differing groups can find representation

Disadvantages: In parliamentary systems that are coupled with

proportional representation (Germany or France) crises are common due to emergence of extremist political parties resulting in cabinet instability and breakdown

Example: Great Britain

Consociational Democracies

A country with vast differences along ethnic, religious, or linguistical divides. Instead of these governments being controlled by one party, a coalition between similar ideological based parties come together to form a coalition government or coalition cabinet.

These nations often have a federal government with powerful state governments, proportional representation, and a rigid well thought out constitution Example: Nigeria

Consociational Democracies Advantages

Stable countries where cultural and ideological cleavage and conflict had been intense, and party leaders could agree to disagree on intractable questions while they would build broad coalitions on others, emphasizing rep in policymaking by all major social groups, coalitions etc.

Disadvantages Have succeeded in pacifying previously

conflictual societies, but when stability has been attained, politicians have often returned to more competitive politics

Corporatist Democracies Businesses within the country help to set

limitations on government authority Advantages

Economic policy is set by deliberation and bargaining over wages, benefits, prices and social policy between top leaders from labour, management and government

More power of negotiation and compromise over conflicts

More technical understanding of business models

Disadvantages The class struggle between workers and

management is so threatening to democratic stability, can be abated by a social partnership

Example: Sweden and Austria

Constitutional Regimes

Systems in which the powers of various government units are defined and limited by a written constitution, statutes, and/or customs

Advantages Inclusion of civil rights, such as the right to a fair trial, freedom

to speak, publish and assemble, are protected against government interference except under specified circumstances

All written constitutions provide for amending procedures, may vary widely, from the simplest (UK) to the most complex case

Disadvantages Some have “rigid” amending procedures (vs. “flexible”

amending proc) In cases of extreme centralisation of power an omnipotent

dictator, as in Hobbes´Leviathan could arise

Majoritarian Regimes

Power is concentrated at a single point, not divided as in a separation of powers system

Advantages Institutions are relatively simple, designed to give power to

the reps of the majority of voters Elections take place in plurality single-member districts

and tend to produce two-party systems Disadvantages (not really a true disadvantage)

Typically can only occur in a homogeneous, culturally unified society

example: England

Consensual Regimes

These systems provide for power sharing in the executive, requiring that ethnic, religious, or regional groups be represented in the cabinet or legislature Found typically in religiously, linguistically, and ethnically

heterogeneous societies Example: Switzerland

Advantages Designed to break up and constrain the exercise of powers

Disadvantages The majority of citizens may not be fully represented

because of the requirement that all groups must be represented

Legislative Assemblies Dates back to ancient Greece and Rome and in

Britain back to creation of Parliament in 1295 Almost all contemporary political systems have

assemblies senates, chambers, diets, houses, etc., Also may be called “legislatures” or “parliaments”

Advantages Requires their approval for major public policies, elected

by vote, are at least formally accountable to the citizenry 80% of the countries belonging to the UN have such

governmental bodies Disadvantages

Long terms and/or no term limits can result in powerful individuals who are unlikely to be defeated

Many thanks to:

Dave LaShomb, AP Comparative Institute