Chapter 8 - Public Policy and Public Administration

Question 1

Public Policy

Answer 1

Debate, recommendations, laws, and regulations relating to any course of action that may be undertaken by a level of government and that affects the public.

Question 2

The Policy Cycle

Answer 2

1. Agenda Setting
2. Policy Formulation
3. Decision-making
4. Policy implementation
5. Policy evaluation
6. Policy Change

Question 3

Main Federal Revenues

Answer 3

Income Tax (50%), Corporate Tax (13%), GST (12%), Other (10%)

Question 4

Main Provincial Revenues

Answer 4

Income Tax (21.5), Federal Transfers (21%), 
Consumption Taxes (19%), Natural Resource (9%), Corporate Income Tax (6.3%)

Question 5

Which ministers and which cabinet committee is responsible for financial management?

Answer 5

The Minister of Finance would be the most important. Also the President of the Treasury Board. The Treasury Board would be the main cabinet committee dealing with financial management.

Question 6

Which parliament committee and which parliamentary offices are responsible for financial management?

Answer 6

Parliamentary Budget Officer, Public Accounts Committee

Question 7

Public Administration

Answer 7

The study of and delivery of public policy by government.

Question 8

Green Paper

Answer 8

A government document released to explore policy options, without any commitment to the outcome.

Question 9

White Paper

Answer 9

A document outlining a proposed policy commitment by government.

Question 10

Policy Adviser

Answer 10

An occupation that involves analysis of data to assess and recommend possible courses of ongoing action.

Question 11

Rational Choice Theory

Answer 11

A theory that citizens are self-interested actors whose decisions fulfill their own needs and wants.

Question 12

Principal-Agent Problem

Answer 12

A problem arising from the fact that someone working on behalf of a decision-maker may not take the course of action the principal intended.

Question 13

Budget Deficit

Answer 13

A situation in which spending exceeds revenues during a given period.

Question 14

Stimulus

Answer 14

Increased government spending to encourage job growth amid an economic downturn.

Question 15

Direct Taxation

Answer 15

The collection of taxes by government without using an intermediary.

Question 16

Indirect Taxation

Answer 16

The collection of taxes by an intermediate body on behalf of the government.

Question 17

Tax Credits

Answer 17

A tax exemption on money spent on a specific activity, up to a specified limit.

Question 18

Pork Barrel Politics

Answer 18

The partisan allocation of government spending to select constituencies, especially those districts held by the governing party,

Question 19

Means of Public Engagement

Answer 19

Consultations, Referendums, Plebiscites (not necessarily legally binding).

Question 20

Policy Networks

Answer 20

A vast group of people that can affect policy (Politicians, legal scholars, experts, interest groups, lobbyist, citizens)

Question 21

Critique of Rational Choice Theory

Answer 21

Policy is not scientific, not rigid. Through experience, trial and error, policy analysts learn ways to apply less structure to problem solving.