The Process in Creating and Implementing Policy Policy in my perspective illustrates as a decision making, planning and or action taken to achieve a certain specific goal within our society. According to Longest B. (2010), his definition stated in his text book states that a policy is defined as ” authoritative decisions made in the legislative, executive, or judicial branches of government that are intended to direct or influence the actions, behaviors, or decisions of others.” In developing a policy, certain steps need to be taken in act to implement the policy. The crucial steps in implementing a policy are: recognizing the problem, agenda setting, formulating the policy, and finally implementing the policy (N.A., 2015). In developing a policy people need to recognize a problem, the concern can be of natural disaster, unsafe workplace, or the cost of medical insurance; all these function as distressers to people. To take control of the problem, the society needs to recognize that the government can and should attain to the problem and solve the public’s concern (N.A., 2015). The policymaking process starts off with Policy Formulation Phase which consists of the critical first step in policymaking which is Agenda setting; this process describes the steps by which particular problems, possible solutions and political circumstances emerge (Longest, 2010). The problems as previously stated are society concerns of natural disaster, unsafe workplace, and the cost of medical insurance, to name a few. As a society initiates a problem, there should be a possible solution or alternative solutions to move the processes into Political Circumstances. In the process of a problem and a solution being finalized, it will not be sufficient en... ... middle of paper ... ...ate shifting situation. This process continuously occurs during the life of the policy do to individuals, organizations, or interest groups who benefit from a particular policy may seek to adjust the increase or maintain the benefits. In the other hand, people who are negatively affected by a policy may seek out to reduce the negative consequences (Longest, 2010). Conclusion The fundamental of policymaking consists of a lengthy time process that goes through many steps in becoming a Bill. The process of policymaking is introduced in the beginning step of the Policy Formulation Phase, as the problem goes through a Legislation it goes into the Policy Implementation Phase, which than forms into a law or vetoed. Many policies do not become a Bill’s, but the certain ones that do they achieve the goal to guide the society with immense decision making and balanced outcomes.
This book also elaborates on the study of rulemaking by giving examples through cases, studies, loads of government documentation and interviews with policy makers. Following the information and chapters is really easy. The book is illustrated with clear tables, charts, and figures. Each chapter is clearly defined and tables/figures are clearly marked after the table of contents.
Agenda setting is the process that determines appropriate solutions to a certain problem of a given field (Kingdon, 3). The process itself consists of three streams: problems, policies, and politics (Kingdon, 16). These separate streams interact when windows of opportunity are open – solutions are fitted with problems, and the impetus for this relationship is amenable political forces (Kingdon, 20). Prominent agendas are determined by the problem or political streams, while solutions are crafted in in the policy stream (Kingdon, 20). In the field of health care, the agenda setting is based upon the high number of uninsured citizens, the rising cost of medical care, the development of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) in response to this issue, and the key players that debate whether governmental involvement is the correct approach in the issue of universal healthcare.
Ensure reciprocal accountability: The eighth policy of collaborative governance and policy design is to enable reciprocal accountability in a complex array of democratic actors, from ordinary citizens and organized stakeholders to elected officials and public administrators.
Charles Lindblom in the Science of Muddling Though identified two methodology in formulating policy - the Rational Comprehensive (Root) and Successive Limited Comparisons (Branch). There are numerous differences between the root and branch decision-making methods for policymaking; root (rational) decision-making starts from basic issues on every occasion and builds from the ground up, whereas branch (successive limited comparison) begins with the current situation and changes incrementally. The linear or rational model presents policy-making as a problem solving process which is sensible, objective and analytical. In the model, decisions are made in an orderly manner starting with the identification of a problem or issue then ending with a set of activities to solve or deal with it. Charles Lindblom is critical of the Rational Comprehensive Method (Root) of policy process as simplistic and difficult to apply when dealing with complex issues (Lindblom, 1959, p. 79). He advocates that there is logic of “muddling through” the process rather than identifying all the issues, collecting al...
A policy is devised by politicians who have certain belifs on how a society must be governed. Politicians with similar belifs come toge...
As Kerwin points out, the US is a representative democracy, but with lawmaking granted as a power to the government, rulemaking becomes a profound dilemma. Rulemaking is a tool that the government can use to be responsive to the increasing demands of the people (Kerwin). Rules tend to be forward-looking because they are to be implemented at a future date. Rosenbloom identifies three general types of rules: legislative, procedural, and interpretive rules. Legislative rules regulate, conduct, and impose standards on products and processes. Procedural rules are drafted to guide the agency’s internal organization and operations. Lastly, interpretative rules are policy statements that guide the agency’s mandate. From these classifications, rules can also have general or specific applications. They can be used to regulate a wide activity or aspect of the society or facilitate a single event or process (Rosenbloom). Public policy in the US largely depends on
The rational models of policy process are compromising a mechanical process in policy making. Theoretically, the models are helping managers of public sector to manage policy issues by using rigid components of procedure that likely use in laboratory. It means the administrators in public sector will follow some sequences, such as gathering important values that related with policy issue, examining the possible outcomes of policy issue by rating those important values that already established, and then he or she will try to make a decision on what is the best policy. The steps are continuing repeatedly in the same condition. The particular characteristics of the models are having valid data, reliable information and managers who have a very good knowledge and a good understanding on the issue and policy making. The rational models of policy making are more mechanical in the way of producing policy based on clarified information and good recognized policy option (Lindblom, 1959: 79 – 80). The approaches of rational policy making appear very stable until the late of 1950s when Lindblom was giving his point of view about the problems within policy process (Lindblomb, 1959: 79 – 88). He said that the process of policy making is not to be expected in such a mechanical process, which all of the issues of policy are easy to understand and development of policy alternatives and decisions simplistic. The policy making process is beyond of that and facing complexity of matters which involves another aspects in the process. Furthermore, Lindblom also pointed that the rational techniques is very hard to implement in simple issues of policy (Lindblom, 1959: 80).
This brings me to the third step of the U.S. policy making process, the step of adopting a solution. Formulated policies must be adopted by relevant bodies of the government in order to be put into effect. This can be done different ways in the U.S. but more times than not it’s done by Congress voting on and accepting a policy in order for it to be adopted. Another way a policy can be adopted is via executive order by the current president. These policies can range from nation altering orders, for example John F. Kennedy’s executive order that called for Affirmative Action. This executive order included a provision that government contractors "take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and employees are treated during employment,
Health care policy targets the organization, financing, and delivery of health care services. The reason for targeting these areas is for the licensing of health care professionals and facilities, to make sure there is protection of patients’ private health information, and there are measures of quality care, mistakes, malpractice, and efforts to control of health care cost (Acuff, 2010). There are several stages that one must take when creating a policy (see figure 1). The figure below shows the critical steps in the policy process. First, the problem must be identified, once the problem is identified potential policy solutions must be formulated, then the policy is adopted, and then implemented. After the policy is in place, an evaluation of the policy has to take place (This Nation, 2013).
If one was to look at the political administration dichotomy, in theory only elected officials should be the ones who decide the public policy, since they are decision makers, but once the policy is made by the elected officials then the policy implementations. Furthermore, administrations are the responsibility of the bureaucrat with whatever they do. In practice, the bureaucrat is involved in implementation and formulation, in which they have the expertise and the knowledge on the subject. The question then is should bureaucrats be involved in policy formulation? This is structural and difficult to draw a line between these two functions. This paper will look at whether or not Bureaucrats should be involved in policy formulations and if what is stated in theory is actually practiced in reality. It will be argued bureaucracy should be involved in policy formulation in order such policies run smoothly.
Frank J. Goodnow’s “Politics and Administration,” infers that politics and administration cannot be divided and are in need of each other to function. However, politics are superior to administration. Goodnow’s further analyzes and identifies three forms of authorities that enforce and implements states will. The first responsibility of authority is to respect the right of the people when conflicts ascend between either private or public matters. The second is judicial authorities also referred to as executive authorities that ensure the needs and policies of the state are executed. The third authority also referred to as “administrative authorities,” focuses on the mechanical, scientific and business authorities pertaining to the government.
“Political context includes aspects such as the distribution of power, the range of organizations involved and their interests, and the formal and informal rules that govern the interactions among different players. Political context shapes the way in which policy processes work” (Nash, R., Hudson, A., and Luttrell, C., 2006). It is important to understand the political context in which a social policy issue is embedded. When I think of context, I think of action. An advocate that is trying to influence policy would be concerned about political contexts because it would determine the likelihood, suitability, and capabilities of his/her behavior (action) and conduct while seeking to institute change. By understanding the political context in which a social policy issue is embedded, one’s strategy and approach can be outlined to understand the manner in which changes can be made. Progress can be slow without understanding the political context. An advocate may understand what needs to be changed but may not understand why the change did not occur. The advocate may also be able to institute change in social policy issues if the advocate has a great understanding of the political context. The advocate must be able to align himself/herself with those that can be recruited to change the context of a policy. The advocate can also determine the severity of instituting the change and the probability of getting the change. “The appropriate level of action and type of advocacy strategy will depend on the political, social and economic situation prevailing at a given point in time” (Rietbergen,-McCracken, J., n.d.).
Public Managers have to participate in the policy making process. Previously, according to scholars, “policy process” was considered “decision making” (Wu, Ramesh, Howlett, & Fritzen, 2010). Under such pretense, public managers considered their role merely with policy implementation. However the recent theories that define public policy, have demarcated public policy as an activity that involves a broad range of activities ranging from defining problems, ensuring the defined problems to make it to agenda, developing alternative solutions of addressing these issues, implementing the results and evaluating the outcomes.
Public policy can be defined as “What ever governments choose to do or not do” (Dye, 2008, p 2). In the context of this essay, public policies are a set of actors by the government in order to reach out to the masses. The ministries and departments are mandated to deliver specific mandates in the form of public goods and services.
Decision making process is the model which explains that the process of policy can be produced. Karl W. Deutsch said politics is the making decision by public means. The decision that has been decided is not the private decision for some people, but it is the collective decision by the public sector, government. The decision means the general action or public goods, about what will do and who gets what. Deutsch illustrated a country as a ship, meanwhile government act like helmsman.