Exam 1 Flashcards
What is the definition of policy, and what are the 4 important elements of that definition?
“purposive course of action or inaction that an actor or set of actors takes to deal with a problem”
Differentiate between polity, politics, and policy
What are policy instruments and what are some examples of types of instruments?
What are 5 major types of conflicts that occur in policy making?
What are 5 major policy types?
Constituent - relate to structure/composition of govt, (i.e. rules and procedures for conduct of gov’t), and divide power among gov’t jurisdictions
Distributive - allocate benefits of services and resources to particular segments of the population
Regulatory - focus on resolving conflicts between two or more groups, with one group imposing controls on another. There are winners/losers.
Self-regulatory - groups or professions cooperate with gov’t to promote their own interests (trade groups, industry associations, licensing, etc.)
Redistributive - shifting of wealth by the gov’t via taxation and redistribution
Define these levels of politics: micropolitics, subsystem politics, macropolitics
Micropolitics - individual or firm seeks a favorable ruling in their own self-interest
Subsystem politics - involve a small segment of national politics, such as a interest group, public agency, or congressional committee
Macropolitics - national politics; broad variety of interest groups, politicians, and public institutions
What are the 4 primary ways to study policy?
Historical
Institutional
Process/analysis
Synthesis: blend or mixture
Summarize the 4 eras of conservation policy in the U.S.
Summarize the study of policy from an institutional perspective
Summarize the study of policy from a process or analysis perspective
Summarize a synthesized approach to studying policy
Summarize the steps in the policy process
❑ Problem formation ➢ Problem or issue perceived and demands for action made
❑ Policy agenda ➢ Demands recognized and problems placed on agenda for action of public organization and decision-maker
❑ Policy formation ➢ Acceptable course of action developed to deal with problem
❑ Policy adoption ➢ Policy selected and made as a policy statement
❑ Policy implementation ➢ Policy statement implemented by government agency, w/ legislative oversight or judicial review
❑ Policy evaluation ➢ Informal or informal of effectiveness, w/suggested improvements
❑ Often iterative process, w/o clear demarcations
Summarize “elites and oligarchs” role in the policy process
Describe rationalism, incrementalism, and mixed scanning policy decision making models
❑ Rationalism ➢ Given problem, ranked goals and objectives, alternative approaches, consequences of alternatives ➢ Choose alternative that maximizes objective
❑ Incrementalism ➢ Muddling through ➢ Branching from past policies
❑ Mixed-Scanning ➢ Periodic major social innovation ➢ Incremental / routine decision making
What are problems, issues, and agenda status?
What are 4 means by which something becomes a public issue?
What’s the difference between general/systemic agendas and formal agendas?
What factors control whether or not an issue reaches agenda status?
What types/classifications of groups seek agenda status and what are some examples of each?
What is issue expansion?
What issue characteristics can increase the liklihood for issue expansion and agenda status?
Summarize the agenda setting process as it differs for uninfluential groups and well established groups.
