Agenda setting
What is agenda-setting?
is the process through which certain issues receive political attention and are taken up by policymakers.
What is framing?
Framing refers to how a problem is defined and interpreted to the public
What is the Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework?
a theory used to explain how policies get on the government’s agenda and why certain issues receive attention while others do not.
What are the 3 types of agendas?
1. Public agenda - issues that citizens see
2. Media agenda - issue receiving attention in the media
3. Political agenda - issues from policymakers
What is the European Commission?
This EU institution is the primary agenda-setter, publishing the annual Work Programme.
What is Venue selection?
The strategy of choosing where an issue should be decided -> (European Commission, European Council, Council of Ministers, EP committees, Specialized DGs, Expert groups)
What is a public agenda?
This type of agenda refers to issues that citizens care about and that impacts them. Usually, a set of issues, problems, and topics that the general public and policymakers believe deserve attention and action
What are national parliaments?
These three actor groups are key in EU policy preparation: coordinating authorities, government departments.
What is policy window? And what is it part of?
Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework - a limited period of time when conditions are just right for a policy change to occur
- it opens when the problem, policy, and politics streams come together
What is the political agenda? (2 types)
A set of issues, goals, and policy priorities that political leaders and governments are focusing on addressing.
1. Governmental - discussed by policymakers
2. Decision - a set of issues to decide
What is the Council of Ministers?
The governing body in parliamentary or semi-presidential systems is made up of the top executive ministers who head various government departments
What are the (4) steps in frames, venues, and policy agendas?
(Tip: they were from Chapter 5 - Agenda setting)
1. Framing issue
2. Venue that deals with the issue
3. Participation of actors
4. Policy agenda
What shapes and influences the agenda(s)?
Actors and institutions (European Commission, European Parliament, Council Presidencies, interest groups)
Issue characteristics
Political dynamics
What are the 4 steps of agenda setting?
Raising attention to issues
Defining problems
Defining overall policy approaches
Formulating specific policy proposals
What are the 3 Kingdon streams? (with explanation!)
Problem Stream - This stream involves issues that need attention. A situation becomes seen as a problem
Policy Stream - available solutions developed by experts, epistemic communities, Commission DGs
Politics stream – political environment (political climate, public opinion, leadership changes)