GOV 310L Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Status Quo, Incrementalism, Business Cycle
Government AP Chapter 9 - Public Policy
Policy
The process of public policy making consists of first deciding what the problem is and
then deciding how to solve it.
Three purposes:
-Solving a social problem: high crime rates, high unemployment, poverty among the
aged or teenage drinking.
-Countering threats: terrorism or war
-Pursuing an objective: building a highway, exploring outer space, finding a cure for
cancer or AIDS
Policy can be achieved by prohibiting certain kinds of behavior such as polygamy,
murder, rape and robbery, and by protecting certain activities by granting patents and
copyrights to individuals for their intellectual property, protecting the environment, and
setting rules for workplace safety.
Issue-attention cycle: requires policy makers to act quickly, before the public becomes
bored and loses interest.
Policy making often involves trade-offs between competing goods. Ex: To find additional
energy resources may require access to pristine wildlife reserves.
Incrementalism: the slow, step-by-step process approach to policy making.
Status quo: legislators can use the policy of inaction because taking no action is one
way of making policy.
Making Policy
1st step: Defining the role of government in solving social and economic problems . The
political left sees a greater responsibility for government than the political right. (Left are
larger and more active than right)
Agenda setting: Identifies the social and economic problems, redefines them into
political issues and ranks them in order of importance. A momentous event such as war,
oil embargo, or collapsing stock market may set the agenda.
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Document Summary
The process of public policy making consists of rst deciding what the problem is and then deciding how to solve it. Solving a social problem: high crime rates, high unemployment, poverty among the aged or teenage drinking. Pursuing an objective: building a highway, exploring outer space, nding a cure for cancer or aids. Issue-attention cycle: requires policy makers to act quickly, before the public becomes bored and loses interest. Policy making often involves trade-offs between competing goods. Ex: to nd additional energy resources may require access to pristine wildlife reserves. Incrementalism: the slow, step-by-step process approach to policy making. Status quo: legislators can use the policy of inaction because taking no action is one way of making policy. 1st step: de ning the role of government in solving social and economic problems . The political left sees a greater responsibility for government than the political right. (left are larger and more active than right)
