Show:
Public Policy
Who Makes Public Policy?
Types of Public Policy
Areas Covered by Public Policy
100
What is the "political agenda" composed of? Cite two examples.
The political agenda is composed of issues that require governmental action. Two examples are taxes and civil rights.
100
• What four major groups make public policy?
Groups, Institutions, the Media, and Citizens.
100
• What four areas of public policy exist?
Majoritarian politics, Interest Group politics, Client politics, and Entrepreneurial politics.
200
What is decision making?
The accepting or refuting of a potential idea to be implemented as government policy.
200
• What “chicken-and-egg” cycle can be derived from the relationship between the press and the agenda?
The national press covers the current matters on the political agenda, while also using its power to influence what matters reach the political agenda- in this case, cause and effect are hard to distinguish.
200
• Give an example of an area covered by majoritarian.
Social security
300
What are four factors that influence our sense of government legitimacy?
1) Shared political values; 2) The weight of custom and tradition; 3) The impact of events; and 4) Changes in the way political elites think and talk.
300
• What are four ways that citizens can affect public policy?
They can: -join interest groups -join protests -voice their opinions through the White House or Senators, -organise their own groups.
300
• For each major type of public policy, list a specific area and example.
-Majoritarian: Social Welfare (social security/ medicare/Obamacare), War; -Interest Group: Business Regulation (Safety and health standards); -Client: Business Regulation (subsidies, price supports)/ Pork-Barrel Policies (log-rolling); -Entrepreneurial: Social Regulation (Inspection Acts, Drug Laws), Environmental Protection (oil spills), Economic Interests (antipollution, Brady Bill, Super Fund program).
400
What are two factors that affect the distribution of power, groups and institutions? Define each.
The cost, and the benefit. The COST is a burden that people believe they must bear if a policy is enacted, while the BENEFIT is the satisfaction that people believe they will enjoy if a policy is adopted.
400
• In the four areas of public policy existing, explain in each who benefits, and who pays the expense.
Majoritarian- almost everyone benefits, almost everyone pays; Interest Group- a small group benefits, a small group pays; Client- a small group benefits, almost everyone pays. Entrepreneurial- almost everyone benefits, a small group pays.
400
• What is log-rolling, and what part might it play in Pork-Barrel policies?
Log-rolling consists of supporting a proposal favored by another in return for their support (trading votes); it is significant to Pork-Barrel politics as such legislation gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts in the hope of winning their vote.
500
• What particular political controversy usually arises concerning majoritarian policies?
A controversy usually exists over matters of cost and ideology (not rival interest groups).