Unit 7: Public Policy
Essential Questions
1. How are policy agendas formed? Include of interactions and dynamics among actors, interests, institutions, and processes in the discussion.
Agenda setting is when problems get defined as political issues. Issues can become part of the agenda through new events, new technology, and new politicians being elected. An event like the BP Oil Spill is an example of and event affecting the policy agenda. The Oil Spill served as a "wake up call" that relaxing government regulation was not a good idea, and new policies had to be placed in order to make sure that it won't happen again. New technology and newly elected officials can also help set agenda by introducing new issues to Congress that need to be addressed. Interest groups play an important role in forming policy agendas by lobbying for issues that they care for to be fixed.
2. Trace the enactment of public policies by Congress and the president.
Policy formation is the next step in the policymaking process. This is the stage when formal policy proposal are developed and a decision is made whether or not to adopt one of the proposals. The enactment of a policy can come from a presidential proposal, legislation developed by congress, or a ruling by the courts, for example, McCulloch v. Maryland.
3. Discuss the implementation and interpretation of policies by the bureaucracy.
Policy implementation is the third step in the policymaking process. The main function of bureaucratic agencies is to implement the policies made by the legislative branch. It is up to the bureaucratic agencies to write the regulations for implementation.
4. Discuss the implementation and interpretation of policies by the courts in the policy process.
5. Investigate and describe policy networks and issue networks in at least three domestic policy areas.
Policy networks: models developed to explain differences in policy making and powers in different policy sectors.
Issue networks: coalition of interest groups who come together through common interests to advocate for change.
Domestic Policies:
6. Investigate and describe policy networks and issue networks in at least three foreign policy areas.
7. Identify and describe the impact of federalism on policy processes and policy making in the federal context.
8. Identify and describe the impact of interest groups on policy processes and policy making in the federal context.
9. Identify and describe the impact of political parties on policy processes and policy making in the federal context.
10. Identify and describe the impact of elections on policy processes and policy making in the federal context.
Agenda setting is when problems get defined as political issues. Issues can become part of the agenda through new events, new technology, and new politicians being elected. An event like the BP Oil Spill is an example of and event affecting the policy agenda. The Oil Spill served as a "wake up call" that relaxing government regulation was not a good idea, and new policies had to be placed in order to make sure that it won't happen again. New technology and newly elected officials can also help set agenda by introducing new issues to Congress that need to be addressed. Interest groups play an important role in forming policy agendas by lobbying for issues that they care for to be fixed.
2. Trace the enactment of public policies by Congress and the president.
Policy formation is the next step in the policymaking process. This is the stage when formal policy proposal are developed and a decision is made whether or not to adopt one of the proposals. The enactment of a policy can come from a presidential proposal, legislation developed by congress, or a ruling by the courts, for example, McCulloch v. Maryland.
3. Discuss the implementation and interpretation of policies by the bureaucracy.
Policy implementation is the third step in the policymaking process. The main function of bureaucratic agencies is to implement the policies made by the legislative branch. It is up to the bureaucratic agencies to write the regulations for implementation.
4. Discuss the implementation and interpretation of policies by the courts in the policy process.
5. Investigate and describe policy networks and issue networks in at least three domestic policy areas.
Policy networks: models developed to explain differences in policy making and powers in different policy sectors.
Issue networks: coalition of interest groups who come together through common interests to advocate for change.
Domestic Policies:
6. Investigate and describe policy networks and issue networks in at least three foreign policy areas.
7. Identify and describe the impact of federalism on policy processes and policy making in the federal context.
8. Identify and describe the impact of interest groups on policy processes and policy making in the federal context.
9. Identify and describe the impact of political parties on policy processes and policy making in the federal context.
10. Identify and describe the impact of elections on policy processes and policy making in the federal context.