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WK2 Discussion: Public Policymaking
Topic:
First select contemporary policy (state or local) and share with the class the key elements of the
policy.
Then, analyze the driving forces of the shaping and implementation of this policy.
Which theories of politics (elite, group, rational choice, or political systems) were at play and
how is this evident through the policymaking process? You must include one of the theories
listed in each of your responses and how it applies.
Use facts to back your analysis rather than using emotion, opinion, or talking points from some
organization.
Remember “pink”, “baby”, and similar popular terms do not describe a tax. Be sure to give the
official title and use scholarly sources to learn about it.
Stay on the topic of the discussion. This week, that is theory of politics rather than giving
opinions about the policies your classmates use.
Please interact with the following student’s initial post. Don’t forget to ask them a question.
Student #1 (PJ) Post:
Good evening Dr. and classmates, for this week’s discussion we are asked to introduce a
contemporary policy at either the state or local level and discuss the key points of the policy
while analyzing the driving forces that supported the shaping and need for implementation. We
were also asked to discuss which political theory was at play during the policymaking process.
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The policy I chose to analyze was the California Homelessness and Affordable Housing Act (AB
1482).
The California Homelessness and Affordable Housing Act (AB 1482), which was passed in
2019, is a contemporary state policy designed to address the growing homelessness and housing
emergency in California. The policy focused on establishing statewide rent control regulations
and eviction protections for residents to maintain the availability and affordability of rental
housing in the state.
The Key Elements of AB 1482 were as follows: (1) Statewide rent control that limited annual
rent increases to 5% plus inflation or 10%, whichever is lower, for most residential properties
that are more than 15 years old. (2) Just cause eviction protection requirements that force
landlords to provide a realistic cause, such as nonpayment of rent or violating the lease, to expel
tenants who have occupied the rental unit for at least 12 months. (3) Exemptions on certain types
of housing, such as single-family homes and condominium units owned by individual landlords,
are excused from the rent control and eviction protection requirements of the policy. Numerous
driving forces influenced the implementation of AB 1482, which included the housing
affordability crisis, political leadership, and grassroots mobilization.
California has one of the highest costs of living and high rates of homelessness in the United
States, which have been attributed to a lack of affordable housing and protections for tenants,
which is attributed to the housing affordability crisis (Chiland, 2019). Governor Gavin Newsom
and legislative leaders in the California State Assembly actively endorsed and supported AB
1482 to address the housing crisis. Also, there are tenant advocacy groups and housing activists
who play a decisive role in influencing public opinion and policy decisions associated with rent
control and affordable housing.
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The political theory that was primarily used throughout the policymaking process of AB 1482
was the group theory. The group theory acknowledges that various interest groups influence the
formation and implementation of public policy (Gormley & Balla, 2018). For instance, tenant
advocacy groups, housing activists, and industry groups performed a significant function in
supporting the passage of the policy. These groups negotiated and lobbied government officials
to ensure that their interests were represented in the legislation.
References:
– Chiland, E. (2019). With Newsom’s signature, California is now the biggest state with rent
control. Curbed Los Angeles. Retrieved from
https://la.curbed.com/2019/10/8/20905376/califorina-rent-control-newsom-signs-ab-1482
– Gormley, W. T., & Balla, S. J. (2018). Bureaucracy and Democracy: Accountability and
Performance. CQ Press.
– California State Assembly. (2019). AB-1482 Tenant Protection Act of 2019: Tenancy: Rent
Caps. Retrieved from
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB1482
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Student #2 (PM) Post:
Good afternoon class,
Gender Neutral Bathrooms in Florida Schools CS/SB 1674: Facility Requirements Base on Sex
As of July 19, 2023, the Florida State Board of Education is requiring restrooms and
locker rooms in grades K-12th to be separated based on biological gender at birth. Manny Diaz
(2023), the Commissioner of Florida Education, states the policy supports the safety and welfare
of students. In addition, the policy supports parental rights by protecting the children from
unwelcome influences and indoctrination (Grall, 2023).
The key elements of CS/SB 1674, F.S supports the previous initiatives of incorporating
parental rights and the LGBTQ community in schools. The state took a stance of prohibiting
discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in K-3rd grade. In addition, Grall (2023)
states that schools must notify parents of any mental, emotional, or physical changes of their
student. The state policies are intended to limit inappropriate conversation, unwelcoming
influences, preserve parental rights, and protect students. Addressing the bathroom situation
supports the intent of previous policies and supports the safety of students in a school setting
(Grall, 2023).
The controversial nature of gender-neutral bathrooms in schools stems from public
concern of sexual harassment, sexual assault, bullying, and hazing. Levy (2017) notes that young
female children are at higher risk of sexual assault with unisex bathrooms, but Thoreson (2022)
states that trans or non-binary individuals are at risk of violence, bullying, and harassment in
gender-inclusive bathrooms (Levy, 2017; Thoreson, 2022). The diversity in the two approaches
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identify as a group struggle in group theory, which led to state officials developing and
implementing CS/SB 1674 (Kraft & Furlong, n.d.).
Russo (2021) uses a thematic analysis of cross-sectional qualitative data from surveys of
practitioners, school staff, and students at the University of Florida, Cypress Bay High School,
and Landmark Middle School. The survey consisted of 43,872 volunteer respondents that were
asked the following: gender identify, preference of bathroom type, reason for preference, is the
school bathroom safe to use, and if they experienced bullying or hazing in a school bathroom. A
common theme within the study found respondents view bathrooms as not a safe place within the
school. The respondents from the survey yield results of 60% feeling unsafe in bathrooms, 73%
prefer gender assigned bathrooms, and 29% experienced bullying or hazing. Russo (2021) notes
that 59% of transgender or non-binary respondents avoid bathrooms, 21% prefer gender assigned
bathrooms, and 12% experience bullying or hazing in the bathroom. The common trend of
avoiding bathrooms concluded to fears of sexual assault, sexual harassment, bullying, and hazing
(Russo, 2021).
Florida residents are almost equally divided on allowing unisex bathrooms in schools.
Prieur (2023) states the common trend throughout Florida residents is child safety when using
school bathrooms. The groups from Russo’s study shared a theme of fear for mistreatment in
school bathrooms, with most favoring gender assigned bathrooms. Prieur (2023) suggests the
Florida State Board of Education choice to prohibit unisex bathrooms supports child safety in
school and alleviate fears of using school bathrooms (Prieur, 2023; Russo, 2021).
The increased concern of child safety in school pressured policy makers to set an agenda for
developing a course of action. The Facility Requirements Base on Sex prohibits faculty members
from entering opposite sex bathrooms unless deemed necessary but must leave is asked to do so.
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Gender assigned bathrooms commonly exist in all Florida schools, which led CS/SB 1674 to
only increase the cost of law enforcement presence in schools by 4%, as fees and criminal
charges are associated under the circumstances a faculty member violates the policy. The policy
was enacted on July 19, 2023, and is active in Florida schools for the 2023-2024 school year
(Grall, 2023). Prieur (2023) notes that the current evaluation of the policy has not resulted to
balancing the social equilibrium, but it has encouraged seven states to follow Florida’s stance
(Prieur, 2023).
References
Grall, E. (2023). CS/SB 1674: Facility Requirements Based on Sex. The Florida Senate. Senate
Bill 1674 (2023) – The Florida Senate (flsenate.gov).
Kraft, M. E. & Furlong, S. R. (n.d.). Public Policy: Politics, Analysis, and Alternatives. Sage
Publications. https://edge.sagepub.com/kraft5e/student-resources/chapter-3/chapter-summary.
Levy, J. (2017). Gender, Education, and Global Health: What’s the big Deal about
Toilets?. Washington University. Gender, education, and global health: What’s the big deal about
toilets? | Institute for Public Health | Washington University in St. Louis (wustl.edu).
Prieur, D. (2023). Transgender bathroom Rules now Apply to Private Schools in Florida. Florida
State University. https://news.wfsu.org/state-news/2023-10-19/transgender-bathroom-rules-nowapply-to-private-schools-in-florida.
Russo, T. (2021). Assessing Opinions Towards Transgender Individuals. University of
Florida. https://safe.menlosecurity.com/doc/docview/viewer/docN65D7E786C7279ca3002f0a4d
900f99020e94009231866faffee18a9e2b6d47ed96b0826d5cfe.
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Thoreson, R. (2022). Florida Avances “Don’t Say Gay” Bill. Human Rights
Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/02/17/florida-advances-dont-say-gaybill?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6erjt_QgwMVh2lHAR0liAbmEAAYASAAEgLMG_D_BwE.
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Student #3 (AC) Post:
The landscape of property insurance in Florida has shifted dramatically since Hurricane Andrew
hit in 1992. Several of the national insurance companies withdrew from the Florida homeowners
and property insurance due to massive losses. This paved the way for the current homeowners
insurance situation in Florida where a majority of the policies are written by small and expensive
private insurance companies known as “domestics”. According to Carrillo et al. (2022, p.244),
many of these companies are “pup” companies, meaning they are underwritten by larger national
insurance companies which allow the smaller pup companies to go insolvent when losses are too
substantial.
Following the 2004 and 2005 hurricane season, insurance prices in Florida have been
skyrocketing faster than any other state or region due to the expected magnitude of future losses
(Carrillo et al., 2022, p.244). Due to the extreme amount of risk, most insurance companies will
not renew policies or write new policies for anyone who has made a claim, whether it be related
to hurricanes or not. Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, a state-backed insurance
company, has become the “last resort insurer for over 1.5 million Floridians with nearly 104,000
new policies being written by Citizens between February and May 2022 (Hurtibise,
2021). Citizens offers low-cost, low-frills policies to anyone who cannot be insured through the
private sector at affordable rates, averaging $3,227 for an annual policy compared to $5,788 on
the private market (Jacobs, 2022).
Recently, the Florida senate passed a law that went into effect in April 2023 that Citizens
could forcibly move their policyholders to private companies if the premium was not more than
20 percent greater than the Citizens renewal premium (Boyd, 2023). This policy is known as
depopulation. According to Weinkle (2020, p.637), a catastrophic hurricane would result in
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economic losses more than $200 billion, a risk even the sturdiest of insurance companies can
absorb even with assistance from the federal government and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe
Fund. Legislators have realized this and mandated that Citizens shed some of its risk.
Given the average premiums presented above, the average monthly cost of homeowners
insurance is $268. A 20 percent increase would be approximately $60 per month. This may not
seem like a lot for some people, but for many who are making ends meet, that is a lot of
money. Additionally, the legislation does not force Citizens to find equivalent policies, so
homeowners will lose coverage and pay more.
I do not have Citizens, but I know two people who have recently been “switched” with nearly no
notice. My coworker received a letter the month before his policy was set to renew that he was
switched to a private company, would be paying nearly $50 more per month, his deductible
changed from $2,000 to $5,000, and everything other than his house (including his fence and
shed) are no longer covered). My neighbor also reported similar changes but did not go into as
much detail as my coworker. According to Saunders (2023), Citizens transferred nearly 100,000
policies in two weeks in October 2023, reducing their footprint from 1.412 million policies to
1.325 million policies.
This policy change was driven by the realization that the current insurance marketplace is not
sustainable, so the state is attempting to cut its losses. This best fits into the elite political theory,
where the policy benefits a small group of those in power and not the majority. I initially
thought it might be rational choice, but I don’t feel that the cost-benefit analysis really has the
needs of most people in mind. I chose elite because at the end of the day, Citizens is an
insurance company, albeit backed by the Florida government, and they are driven by being
profitable.
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References
Boyd, S. (2023). Property
insurance. https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/BillSummaries/2022A/html
Carrillo, G., Telljohann, D., & Nyce, C. (2022). The 30th anniversary of hurricane Andrew:
Evolution of the Florida homeowners insurance market. Risk Management and Insurance
Review, 25(3), 239–270. https://doi.org/10.1111/rmir.12222
Hurtibise, R. (2021). More than 100,000 race to Citizens Insurance as hurricane season begins.
In TCA Regional News. Chicago: Tribune Content Agency LLC.
Jacobs, T. (2022). Hurricane Ian made Florida insurance market “markedly worse” – Citizens
CEO. The SNL Insurance Daily.
Saunders, J. (2023). Citizens Insurance policies drop amid depopulation. Click Orlando.
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/2023/10/24/citizens-insurance-policies-drop-amiddepopulation/
Weinkle, J. (2020). Experts, regulatory capture, and the “governor’s dilemma”: The politics of
hurricane risk science and insurance. Regulation & Governance, 14(4), 637–652.
https://doi.org/10.1111/rego.12255
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Student # 4 (MH) Post:
The bill I selected for this week’s discussion is SB 180.
Short Title
“Establishing the women’s bill of rights to provide a meaning of biological sex for purposes of
statutory construction”.
This bill was introduced by Senator Erickson and sponsored by the committee on Public Health
and Welfare. It enacted after July 1st, 2023.
Key element of this policy are as follows:
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To establish Women’s bill of Rights.
•
To distinguish between the sexes and identify those sexes.
•
To enable the courts to interpret and apply the legislation.
•
To require school districts, public schools, state agencies, departments or offices or
political subdivision to collect vital statistics of individuals as male or female at birth.
•
To continue to provide protection to individuals with medical verifiable diagnosis of
disorders/ differences in their sex development under the available federal and state legal
protections.
“The bill requires and states that, despite any provision of state law to the contrary, distinctions
between the sexes be considered substantially related to the important governmental objectives
of protecting the health, safety, and privacy of individuals, with respect to the following areas:
•
Athletics;
•
Prisons or other detention facilities;
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Domestic violence centers;
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Rape crisis centers;
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Locker rooms;
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Restrooms; and
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Other areas where biology, safety, or privacy are implicated that result in separate
accommodations”. (Summary SB180 2023)
The driving forces of the shaping and implementation of this policy are the elected officials as
well their voters whose objective is to protect the cisgender women from discrimination and
sexual violence.
Supporters – Voters as well as Kansas legislative is majority Republicans. While the Kansas
Governor, Governor Kelly is a Democrat. She did veto this bill however, motion to override
prevailed in both Senate and House.
A public policy is set by the government, but it is to precisely address a social problem. In case
of this bill, the set of people who support this policy are conservatives and Republicans, plus
Kansas as a state is a conservative state. This policy is a government initiative but to address a
social issue raise by majority of their people.
My understanding is that this policy falls under three public policy theories.
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Group Theory: In this theory various interest groups struggle to balance their interests. As
majority is of same interest groups, in government (House and Senate) and out of government
(Supporters/ Citizens/ Advocacy groups).
Institutional Theory: In this theory the role of government is emphasized and the institutions
that can influence the policy. As for this bill the institution being House and Senate are strong
being a majority that passed the law and override the veto of the head of state (Governor) as
well.
Rational Choice Theory: In this theory, it “focuses on individual decision making and suggests
that people (from voters to elected officials) are rational actors who attempt to further their own
self-interest”.
Here the elected officials are in control. Elected officials are asking for what their voters want
and fulfilling their majority constituency demands.
References:
http://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb180/
http://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/summary_sb_180_2023
https://edge.sagepub.com/kraft6e/student-resources/chapter-3/chapter-summary
END========================================================
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PART II
MY POST: Minimum Wage
The national minimum wage policy is a critical contemporary policy that reveals the
complexities of developing and implementing policies in modern American politics. Although
states can design their minimum wage, the federal government has capped the country’s
minimum wage at $7.25 per hour (Flavin & Shufeldt, 2017). Federalism in the USA has
significantly supported policy action, including setting the minimum wage. For instance, states
could develop their minimum wage policies if they do not go below the federal standard.
In 2023, the range of state minimum wage rates is as follows:
•
30 states and the District of Columbia have minimum wage rates above the federal rate.
•
2 states have minimum wage rates below the federal rate.
•
5 states have no state minimum wage requirement, and
•
The remaining 13 states have minimum wage rates equal to the federal rate.
In the states that do not enact minimum wage or with wages lower than the federal minimum
wage, only individuals whom the FLSA does not cover are subject to those lower rates (CRS,
2023). According to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI, 2023), Twenty-two states increased their
minimum wages on January 1, 2024, raising pay for nearly 10 million workers.
States with a minimum wage rate above the federal rate depend on the mechanism to adjust the
state minimum wage. The three main criteria for regulating the adjustment of minimum wage
rates in these states are legislatively scheduled increases, indexing to inflation, and reference to
the federal minimum wage rate (CRS, 2023).
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The minimum wage policy has several critical elements associated with public policy. The
first element of the policy is providing a law for the implementation of the policy. As a law, the
policy offers consequences for individuals and corporations who do not abide by the guidelines.
The policy also comprises actions that federal and state governments should take in
implementing the regulations (Benton, 2021). The policy has plans for the state and federal
authorities to monitor its implementation. Moreover, the policy comprises a well-defined
problem that must be resolved for the benefit of the masses.
The development and implementation of this policy was informed by different forces. The
major driving force for the setting of the policy was the need to improve the quality of life for
working-class citizens (Benton, 2021). The minimum wage remains a hotly debated issue in
contemporary political discourse and economics. Although the FLSA has been amended many
times since its inception in 1938, only the most recent change, effective in 2009, increased the
federal minimum wage to $7.25. Since then, there have been no federal minimum wage increases
despite several efforts. Currently, there have been increasing calls for improving the minimum
wage from $7.25 to $10.10 (Flavin & Shufeldt, 2017). Although opponents of the minimum
wage argued that it could lead to fewer employment opportunities and job losses, its supporters
maintained that the economy was stable enough to support a minimum wage for employees
across all sectors.
Different theories of politics were at play in shaping and implementing the minimum
wage policy in the USA. From the rational choice theory perspective, the minimum wage policy
emanated from the push by citizens to improve their standards of living. Federal policymakers,
therefore, pursued a policy that could best align with the citizens’ preferences (Flavin &
Shufeldt, 2017). The political systems theory is also evident in developing and implementing the
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minimum wage policy. According to this theory, policymakers make decisions that align with the
dominant social, cultural, and economic contexts. In summary, implementing the federal
minimum wage policy reveals the role of theories in the policy-making processes. The minimum
wage continues to be a vital policy for creating a more equitable economy.
References
Benton, M. (2021). Public justifications for the U.S. minimum wage. Industrial Relations
Journal, 52(4), 331–347. https://doi.org/10.1111/irj.12338
Congressional Research Service (CRS). (2023). State Minimum Wages: An Overview
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Economic Policy Institute (EPI, 2023). https://www.epi.org/blog/twenty-two-states-will-increasetheir-minimum-wages-on-January-1-raising-pay-for-nearly-10-million-workers/
Flavin, P., & Shufeldt, G. (2017). The state of the minimum wage: Federalism, economic policy,
and workers’ well-being. The Forum, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1515/for-2017-0010
Please answer the following student relating to my post:
Student #5 Follow-up my post:
Hello,
Thank you for your contribution to this week’s discussion. The national minimum wage policy in
the United States indeed serves as a critical contemporary policy reflecting the intricacies of
modern American politics. The dual nature of federalism allows states to design their own
minimum wage policies within the bounds set by the federal government, creating a nuanced
system. Your emphasis on the critical elements of the minimum wage policy, such as its legal
foundation, consequences for non-compliance, and the involvement of federal and state
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authorities in monitoring implementation, underscores its comprehensive nature. This
multifaceted approach aligns with the policy’s goal of resolving a well-defined problem for the
benefit of the masses. The forces driving the development and implementation of the policy, as
you point out, primarily stem from the need to enhance the quality of life for the working
class. The integration of political theories, specifically rational choice theory and political
systems theory, adds depth to your analysis. The rational choice theory highlights the citizens’
push to improve their standards of living, guiding federal policymakers toward aligning with
citizens’ preferences. The political systems theory emphasizes decisions aligning with dominant
social, cultural, and economic contexts, showcasing the interplay of various factors in shaping
and implementing the minimum wage policy. In conclusion, your discussion provides a
comprehensive examination of the national minimum wage policy, offering insights into its
complexities, underlying forces, and the role of political theories in shaping the policy-making
process. The ongoing importance of this policy in creating a more equitable economy resonates
with the evolving dynamics of American society.
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PADM530 PUBLIC POLICY ALL WKS READING MATERIALS
WK1
Public Policy and Politics
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.
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 longterm consequences as well as the short-term consequences, and to think about what unintended
consequences may result.
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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):
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.
3
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.
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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
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.
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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
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
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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.
•
Institutionalism, which sees public policy as an institutional (government) output.
•
Process, which sees policymaking as a political activity.
•
Group Theory, which sees policymaking as a struggle among special interest groups.
•
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.
•
Rationalism, which sees policymaking as an effort by decision makers alone to make the
best choice for the largest number of people.
•
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.
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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-islandmicronation/index.html International
Law: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/international_law Uphold International
