CH 2 Public Policy Flashcards
What is policy fragmentation in the U.S.?
Policymaking is intentionally fragmented, involving multiple decision-makers and levels of government.
What are the advantages of policy fragmentation?
- Reduces errors by involving many decision-makers.
- Encourages innovation through diverse perspectives.
- Diffuses power to prevent authoritarian control.
What are the disadvantages of policy fragmentation?
- Lack of policy productivity.
- Gridlock (e.g., 1980s, 1990s, 2001–2005, 2010 to present).
- Poor policy coordination and coherence.
What is federalism?
Federalism is the constitutional allocation of powers between federal and state governments.
Which constitutional amendments and clauses define federalism?
- The Ninth and Tenth Amendments reserve powers not granted to the federal government to the states.
- Article VI establishes the supremacy of federal law.
What does “intergovernmental relations” refer to?
The overlapping authority and interdependence among different levels of government.
What are the types of federalism?
- Layer Cake Federalism: Original division of powers, with subnational governments performing most public activities.
- Marble Cake Federalism: Government layers are distinct but not isolated.
- Picket Fence Federalism: Policy subsystems defined by vertical policy areas rather than horizontal government levels.
Is federalism driven by expertise or political power?
Both, but expertise plays a significant role.
What are common conditions attached to state and local government funding?
Federal funding often comes with requirements or conditions that state and local governments must follow.
What are federal mandates?
Requirements imposed by the federal government on state and local governments.
Give examples of significant federal mandates.
- Mandates under Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.
- Contract with America (1994) and the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (1995).
- No Child Left Behind Act under George W. Bush.
How did Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush approaches federalism?
They focused on decentralization, reducing categorical grants, and increasing block grants.
What was Bill Clinton’s approach to federalism?
Continued decentralization with the 1996 welfare reform emphasizing states’ rights.
How did George W. Bush’s administration differ in its federalism approach?
It was the most centralizing, involving the federal government in education, law enforcement, and healthcare.
What were Barack Obama’s contributions to federalism?
Sponsored a stimulus package providing billions to states and expanded federal involvement in healthcare.
What are the key components of policymaking in the American government?
Federalism, Separation of Powers, Subgovernments, Public and Private Sectors, The Size and Shape of the Public Sector
How does the separation of powers impact policymaking?
Numerous veto points make policy initiation difficult but make it easy to prevent change. Coalitions are needed across institutions for effective policy.
What is the role of the president, Congress, and the courts in policy legitimation?
They must all agree to a policy for it to be fully legitimated.
Why is the bureaucracy important in policymaking?
The bureaucracy, though only alluded to in the Constitution, is often the most active in promoting policy change and serves through legislation that may expand agency budgets.
What is an iron triangle?
A stable relationship between interest groups, congressional committees, and administrative agencies that work together to influence policy.
Can you provide an example of an iron triangle?
Defense contractors, the Armed Services Committee, and the Department of Defense.
What are issue networks?
Loosely connected groups with competing interests and ideas involved in policy making.
What is logrolling in American politics?
When a congressperson trades a vote on one bill for another congressperson’s vote on a different bill.
What is pork barrel spending?
When a congressperson supports another’s spending earmark to ensure support for their own earmark.
What is the trend in privatization of public activities?
Privatization began in the 1970s and accelerated in the 1980s under Reagan, extending to state and local government functions.
What is corporatism (or neocorporatism)?
The direct involvement of interest groups in public decision-making.
How did public expenditures change after World War II?
They increased from less than one-quarter to more than one-third of the GNP.
How did employment in the federal government change after 1950?
The federal government employed a smaller percentage of public employees, with an increase in state and local programs.
How did defense employment change after the Cold War?
It declined from 49% in 1952 to less than 3% in 2009.
What shift occurred in public spending between defense and welfare?
Defense expenditures declined from 46% in 1952 to 9% in 2009, while welfare services increased from 20% to 64%.
What are entitlement programs?
Programs aimed at the elderly, such as Social Security and Medicare, which are politically difficult to cut.
What percentage of the federal budget was spent on programs for the elderly in 2009?
53% of the federal budget.
How does the U.S. government indirectly influence the economy?
Through tax deductions for mortgage interest, subsidized student loans, and regulatory policies instead of direct intervention.
