Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006

Introduction

GOVERNMENT, POLITICS, AND THE POLICYMAKING PROCESS

American Government:Policy & Politics,

Eighth Edition

TANNAHILL

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006

In This Chapter We Will Cover:

• The importance of government

• Government and politics

• The public policy approach to studying government

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006

Government Affects Individual Americans in Many Ways

• Regulations– Speed limits– Minimum drinking age– Protection from unsafe products

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006

Government Affects Individual Americans in Many Ways

• Services– Public hospitals– Schools– Transportation– Student loans– Welfare

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006

Government Affects Individual Americans in Many Ways

• Taxes– Federal, state, and local taxes

represent 30 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

–Workers pay payroll and income taxes on wages

–Consumers pay sales taxes and excise taxes

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006

Government and Politics

• Government: the institution with authority to set policy for society

• Politics: the process that determines who shall occupy the roles of leadership in government and how the power of government shall be exercised

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006

Public Policy, the Public Policy Approach, and the

Policymaking Environment

• Public policy refers to the response, or lack of response, of government decision-makers to an issue.

• The public policy approach is a comprehensive method for studying the process by which public policy is created.

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006

Public Policy, the Public Policy Approach, and the

Policymaking Environment• The policymaking environment refers to

factors outside government that impact the policymaking process.

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006

Stages of the Policy Process

• Agenda building

–Problems become matters of public concern

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006

Stages of the Policy Process

• Policy Formulation

–Alternative strategies for dealing with problems are developed

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006

Stages of the Policy Process

• Policy Adoption

–The decision of a government body to accept a particular policy and put it into effect

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006

Stages of the Policy Process

• Policy Implementation

–The stage in the policy process in which policies are carried out

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006

Stages of the Policy Process

• Policy evaluation

–The assessment of policy, involving questions of equity, efficiency, effectiveness, and political feasibility

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006

Types of Policy Evaluations

• Normative analysis is based on certain values.

• Empirical analysis is a method relying upon experience and scientific observation.

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006

Concluding Review Questions

• How does government impact your life?• What is the difference between politics

and government?• Why is the policymaking environment

important?• What are the stages of the policymaking

process?