Ch. 13 Government and Public Policy

Question 1

system model

Answer 1

a model of policymaking that holds that policy is the product of interlocking relationship between institutions of government and its social, economic, and political environment

Question 2

public policy

Answer 2

whatever governments choose to do or not to do

Question 3

bureaucratic model

Answer 3

a model of policymaking that holds that bureaucracies play a crucial role in making policy because of their commitment and the expetise they can provide

Question 4

marxism model

Answer 4

a model of policymaking that holds that public policy decisions in non-Marxist regimes reflect the interests of the ruling economic class at the expense of workers

Question 5

free market capitalism model

Answer 5

a model of policymaking that posits a limited role for government so that the natural forces of supply and demand are allowed to prevail in the marketplace

Question 6

elitism

Answer 6

a model of policymaking that holds that public policy decisions are made by a relatively small group of individuals acting in their own self-interest rather than in the interest of the mass of citizens

Question 7

pluralism

Answer 7

a model of policymaking that holds that public policy decisions are the result of struggles among contesting groups that reflect the various interests among citizens

Question 8

rational-comprehensive model

Answer 8

a model of decision making that holds that policymakers should identify problems, consider various policy alternatives and their costs and benefits, and select and implement the policy strategy with the highest benefits and the lowest costs

Question 9

incrementalism

Answer 9

a model of decision making that holds that new policies should differ only marginally from existing policies

Question 10

policy agenda

Answer 10

the public issues that engage the attention of elected officials

Question 11

policy strategy

Answer 11

a specific course of actions designed to deal with a public problem

Question 12

policy adoption

Answer 12

a formal, authoritative decision, such as the enactment of legislation, made by institutions of government to address an issue on the policy agenda

Question 13

policy implementation

Answer 13

the translation of policy ideas into action

Question 14

policy evaluation

Answer 14

the act of determining whether a formally adopted and implemented policy ameliorated or solved a public problems

Question 15

foreign policy

Answer 15

a nation’s collective decision about relations with other nations

Question 16

domestic policy

Answer 16

a category of public policy that is comprised of policy decisions about matters affecting individuals within a political system