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i weekly discussion board on public policy
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PADM530 PUBLIC POLICY
DISCUSSION BOARD WK1
Topic: W1: Public policy introduction
In order to learn some of the important ideas about how to do policy analysis, we are going to do
something a little different this week.
I have several scenarios below.
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For your original response, select one and argue for it. (We are working only on this
one now).
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For your three responses to others, you must respond to three different scenarios and
argue against each of them.
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This means that you will be discussing at least four different scenarios.
As you argue for or against, use logic and facts rather than emotions. Think about long-term
consequences and unintended consequences as well as the short-term consequences and intended
consequences.
If I see there are plenty of original responses on one of the scenarios, I may close that scenario,
so it is to your benefit to post early in the week in order to get the scenario you want.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
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The subject line needs to be the scenario title.
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If I close a scenario for original responses, anyone posting an original response about that
scenario after it has been closed is fine but will not earn credit.
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If you respond to the same scenario more than once, that is fine, but you will not earn
credit for subsequent responses on that same scenario.
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The idea here is to get you to think critically and present a case about a policy in a
professional manner. No “yelling” or “nastiness” allowed. Polite disagreement based on
facts and evidence is professional. That is always welcome in my classes.
Special Note
You have several assignments during this class. You need to select a different policy for each
one. Policies similar to the ones in the scenarios are forbidden as we will already have done these
in class.
A little later, you will be asked to share what your topic will be for your final. I track all of these,
so you may wish to look at the assignments and choose your topic for each one early in the class
to make this easier.
Scenarios
Monthly Stipend
Because the cost of living in a city is so high, the mayor has proposed providing a $500 per
month stipend to each household within the city limits.
Sanctuary City
Cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies has been a longstanding
tradition. A city has proposed that if someone arrested for a local or state crime is not legally
present in the country, the local law enforcement agency will not notify Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (the relevant federal law enforcement agency), which is a change to its
traditional practice.
Plastic Straws
A state has forbidden restaurants from providing plastic straws to their customers.
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Minimum Wage
A city has set the minimum wage for all businesses operating within its limits at $15 per hour.
Concealed Carry
A state has forbidden its citizens from carrying concealed firearms, except for law enforcement
officers. A county within that state has created a category of reserve sheriff’s deputies open to any
resident legally allowed to own a gun, which would allow any such resident who chooses to do
so to become a law enforcement officer and therefore legally allowed to carry a concealed
firearm. The policy here is the new category of reserve officers.
COVID-19 Immunization
After COVID-19 immunizations were available for those age 12 and older and were in plentiful
supply, a city enacted a law that requires every individual age 12 or older to prove full COVID
vaccination in order to be indoors in any business.
There are exceptions for medical or religious reasons, but those people must show proof of a
recent negative test or stay outside the building.
Masks are still required.
READING MATERIALS WK1
Welcome to Week 1.
Public policy includes the specific actions government takes to rectify a public situation, to
establish goals and develop methods to accomplish them, to set guidelines and best-practices, to
communicate agency expectations and standards, etc. Our textbook authors discuss five public
policy contexts that affect public policy: social, economic, political, government and cultural.
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For each policy action, there is one or more contexts at play for its creation, modification, or
rejection.
Introduction
Public Policy is broad term that describes an action or strategy that a governmental organization
takes to address a problem or perceived problem. The action or strategy can be formed at the
federal, state, or local level. Either public policy can be for the good of the citizens as a group or
it can be for benefitting some special interest group.
Created in haste, the results of public policy can be detrimental for many people and often policy
needs to be rescinded or changed. Policy may be set by law makers or by agencies. The impacts
or the results of a policy may not be what was intended. It is vital to examine any policy from all
perspectives, to examine the good and bad about the policy, to examine the long-term
consequences as well as the short-term consequences, and to think about what unintended
consequences may result.
Policy Analysis
The analysis of policy either takes place before or after policy is completed. Analysis of
completed policy allows for the identification of alternative options, the consideration of all
consequences and individual perspectives prior to the best one selected.
Select each tab to learn more.
Framework for Policy AnalysisThree Approaches to Policy Analysis
One of the most accepted models for policy analysis is that set forth by Carl V. Patton and David
S. Sawicki, which has the following six steps (Patton and Sawicki 1986, p.26):
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1. Verify, define, and detail the problem.
2. Establish evaluation criteria.
3. Identify alternative policies.
4. Evaluate these alternatives. Once alternative policies have been identified, they can be
evaluated by deciding the points in favor and against each one.
5. Select from alternative policies.
6. Monitor or evaluate progress. This step (especially in the flowchart below) suggests that
the policy has been implemented.
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Official Policymakers
Many individuals and groups share power over policy, but the ones that come to mind for many
are the official policymakers, which includes elected and appointed government officials. A
system of checks and balances distributes the authority to make policy to prevent abuse of power
and guarantee individual liberties, and ideally, to avoid inefficiency, duplication, and unnecessary
expense.
The balance of power between the federal government and state governments has shifted over
time. The United States Constitution gave the federal government limited powers and
responsibilities, giving all powers not specifically named to the states and to the people.
Today, national defense, transportation, and interstate commerce, are generally the domain of the
federal government. Though state and local governments were generally in charge in areas such
as public education, and law enforcement, the federal government has found ways to use funding
to have larger roles in those areas that were not specifically listed in the Constitution for the
federal government.
Policy Actors and Conditions
All three branches of government are generally involved in the policy process. Additionally,
others may be policy actors.
Citizens
Americans have been involved in government since colonial times. While citizen participation
can be difficult to obtain on a regular basis, citizens do vote and often become involved for
special projects. While it is not a requirement for citizens to be involved, it is an option as they
are stakeholders in public policies.
Special interest groups
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Special interest groups are often involved when they wish to influence policy. Citizens may
become part of a special interest group and act on behalf of the issues they support. These issues
may be good for the citizens as a whole or they may be good for only one group of people.
Examples of well-known special interest groups are National Association for the Advancement
of Colored People (NAACP) and the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL). Some
special interest groups hire former cabinet officials, military members and Congress members as
lobbyists as they already have knowledge about lawmaking and friends who are law makers.
Political parties
A political party’s first concern is maintaining power and controlling government; public policy
is a secondary concern.
Research institutes
Media
The media can greatly influence policy through the way it reports public attitudes and opinions.
Policymakers may also use the media to shape the public’s opinions and attitudes towards policy
issues. Media are generally biased.
Conditions Affecting Policy making
Some things to examine when analyzing policy are who benefits and who pays, if the policy is
politically feasible, who will support it, whether or not it is cost-efficient. What the public
opinion is, and what economic and conditions are. Remember: Most policy is a result of
compromise between various parties.
Influences on Policy Making
Public Opinion in Policy Making
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Public opinion often influences policy. Those in Congress, the media, and groups supporting and
opposing policy will influence public opinion. This is most important for major policy items. In
most cases, however, the general public doesn’t pay attention to what Congress does on a daily
basis.
Influence of the Media and Internet on Policy Making
Internet and media outlets most certainly have the biggest influence in determining which issues
rise to national prominence. Younger Americans tend to use social media, much of which is
simply opinion based. There exists a strong relationship between media agenda vs. what citizens
and non-citizens believe the public agenda to be.
Examinations of the relationships among media coverage, public opinion and policy making
show strong correlations, with the correlation between the media and policy making being the
strongest.
Models of Public Policymaking
Many follow several models of policymaking with the most common included below. More than
one can apply.
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Institutionalism, which sees public policy as an institutional (government) output.
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Process, which sees policymaking as a political activity.
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Group Theory, which sees policymaking as a struggle among special interest groups.
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Elite theory, which sees policymaking as involving those who have the power
implementing their ideas whether or not those ideas are best for the entire country.
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Rationalism, which sees policymaking as an effort by decision makers alone to make the
best choice for the largest number of people.
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Incrementalism, which sees policymakers as continually making small changes to enact
what they want whether it is for the best of the whole or not.
Conclusion
Public policy and its creation is complex and requires policy makers and analysts to consider
many variables, including different points of view, long-term consequences, short-term
consequences, unintended consequences, who will pay, and what group will benefit as well as
what group will suffer.
Readings Chapter
1: Nature and History of International Law (Grant Text) Chapter
2: Sources of International Law (Grant Text) Chapter 3: International Law and Municipal Law (Grant Text)
They Bought a Caribbean Island to Start Their Own Country, Richard Collett, CNN, March 10, 2022:
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/islandia-lets-buy-an-island-micronation/index.html International
Law: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/international_law Uphold International Law:
https://www.un.org/en/our-work/uphold-international-law What is International Law?:
https://world101.cfr.org/how-world-works-and-sometimes-doesnt/globalgovernance/whatinternational-law A Guide To The Basics Of International Law: https://www.law.georgetown.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2019/08/AGuide-to-the-Basics-of-Intl-Law.pdf Abdul Hamid Kwarteng, Is International
Law Really Law?, Asian Res. J. of Arts & Soc. Sci., March 6, 2018 at 5(4): 1-9, available at
https://journalarjass.com/index.php/ARJASS/article/view/11384 Harlan Grant Cohen, Finding
International Law: Rethinking the Doctrine of Sources, 93 Iowa L. Rev. 65 (November, 2007), available at
https://advance-lexiscom.ezproxy2.apus.edu/api/document?collection=analyticalmaterials&id=urn:contentItem:4RFS-X1K002BM-Y0VC-00000-00&context=1516831
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References
Cogan, A., Sharpe, S., & Hertzberg, J. (1986). Citizen participation. The Practice of state and
regional planning. Chicago, IL: American Planning Association.
Parker, B. (2002). Planning Analysis: The Theory of Citizen Participation. University of Oregon.
Retrieved from http://pages.uoregon.edu/rgp/PPPM613/class10theory.htm.
Patton, C. V., & Sawicki, D.S. (1986). Basic Methods of Policy Analysis and Planning.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Image Citations
“A flowchart the shows the six steps of the policy analysis framework: 1. Verify, define and
detail the problem, 2. Establish evaluation criteria, 3. Identify alternative policies, 4. Evaluate
alternative policies, 5. Display and distinguish among alternative policies, and 6. Monitor the
implemented policy.” by
http://pages.uoregon.edu/rgp/PPPM613/class10theory.htm.
“Washington DC Skyline with Washington Monument” by
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Washington_dc_skyline.jpg.
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