Policy Diffusion
What is the definition of policy diffusion?
One government's policy choices being influenced by the choices of other governments
Why is health policy so hard to pass in Congress?
because of the sheer mass and impact of health policy on the population
What is a winning legislator's central goals (TWO GOALS)?
1. lock in policy gains
2. secure programs that automatically will be revised
"Don't expect any dramatic health policy changes from the shift in power. Republicans maintain a majority in the Senate." What concept does this illustrate?
Policy gridlock
WHO are the members of the original coalition?
Members of congress and the president
When is policy diffusion a bad thing?
When said policy is adopted without concern for the effects
Name one reason for policy gridlock.
polarization of parties & no compromise
What does the original coalition what to do? (TWO objectives)
Write laws that accomplish their policy objectives AND bind future lawmaking coalitions
ACA announcements from state governors and additional comments about grant funding have increased support for the ACA in nearby states. What is this an example of?
Policy diffusion
What are sunset provisions (Two potential answers)?
A causal factor that affects legislative durability
OR a by-product of legislative fragmentation
Identify one law/policy that has experienced gridlock.
Multiple different answers but an example would be Secure Act that increase the ranks of retirement savers and the amount they put away.
What two supermajority requirements are credited with making legislative enactments difficult to achieve and thus potentially more stable over time?
1. The presence of multiple veto points
2. Bicameralism
Name three of the five variations in the political conditions at the time of enactment has long lasting consequences for the duration of law?
1. Divided government at enactment
2. Chamber difference at enactment
3. Subsequent chamber difference
4. Court attention
5. Law complexity
Divisiveness
What is it called when the public favors government action?
Is there support for the hypothesis that Congress is more likely to amend existing laws when the public is in a more activist mood?
Nope
Why is it anticipated that there will be policy gridlock within this next administration?
because even with a democratic president, democrats didn’t have the blue wave they anticipated, didn't secure the Senate majority and didn’t expand in the House either.
What is it called when the greater the policy disagreement between the House and Senate, the greater the probability of amendment?
Bicameral Differences
True/false: Variation in political conditions at the time of law-enactment has long-lasting consequences for the duration of the law
True
When does legislative fragmentation occur?
When provisions are likely to be caused by the same factors that also determine legislative durability.
Major laws adopted by slim majorities are more likely to be amended, WHY?
Because divisive laws are less likely to be protected against future laws
What factors can account for the variation in the stability of a newly passed law? (3 factors)
the political environment at the time of passage influences the length of time until a law is amended.
subsequent political conditions also determine whether a law is amended.
characteristics of the law itself will affect its longevity
What tools available for losers seeking to either cripple or expand existing laws (5 potential answers- name two)
1. crafting the law in such a way that invites review by the judiciary by pushing for the inclusion of vague, inconsistent, or even unconstitutional provisions.
2. Adding an in-severability clause to force the Court to declare a law favored by the president and most of the Congress as unconstitutional
3. Advocacy for the inclusion of sunset provisions,
4. Advocacy for temporally limited reauthorizations
5. Advocacy for other provisions that are likely to encourage the public and organized interests to lobby against successful implementation
What does an independent judiciary help do?
ensure policy stability (thereby increasing the value of legislation to groups and members of Congress)