Midterm Flashcards
(102 cards)
1
Q
Define economic liberalism
A
Economic liberalism is the ideological belief in organizing the economy on individualist and voluntarist lines, meaning that the greatest possible number of economic decisions are made by individuals and not by collective institutions or organizations (free markets will produce the best outcome)
2
Q
Define partisan polarization
A
the divergence of political attitudes to ideological extremes
3
Q
Define policy gridlock
A
During the 1992 presidential campaign Bill Clinton proposed a “timber summit” to break the forest policy gridlock, or as he put it, to free up the “log jam.” Conflict between loggers of old-growth forest and preservationists
- when governing bodies are so polarized they can’t agree on anything and nothing gets passed
4
Q
Define regulatory rollback*
A
*In government and economic contexts, Rollback metaphorically denotes action to repeal, dismantle, or otherwise diminish the effect of a law or regulation.
5
Q
What are the five new policy pathways to surmount congressional law-making gridlock and how successful do they seem to be currently?
A
Appropriations politics
Executive Branch policymaking
Increasing use of the courts
Collaboration based politics
An increase in state-focused policymaking
**How successful do they seem to be currently
A lot of gridlock
Executive rulemaking is important
6
Q
From 2001 until 2014, one could conclude that the major Supreme Court decisions enabled the expansion of federal regulations to protect the environment, but reversed direction since 2020. (a) what case decisions and evidence support this assertion? (b) what probably caused this shift?**
A
7
Q
Name and briefly describe 5 broad classes of American values and tenets that affect U.S. natural resource policy decisions.
A
Liberty or freedom, ownership and tenure, equality, market failures, and professional norms.
8
Q
Describe 5 to 6 important steps in critical thinking.
Describe 5 or 6 simple rules about writing good papers.
Historically, Native American and African American accomplishments, losses, equity, and prospects have been contentious. Based on your brief critical thoughts about the issue, discuss how these issues currently apply in one type of land ownership, of either (1) private land ownership, or (2) public land management in natural resources?
**
A
9
Q
Describe 5 to 6 important steps in critical thinking.
A
- identifying issue of concern
- identify key assumptions
- identify key values at play
- gather facts and empirical evidence
- select desirable policy improvements based on values and evidence
- assess how to seek agreement among different groups involved
10
Q
Describe 5 or 6 simple rules about writing good papers.
A
- cover more than one side
- Be fair - Balance of benefits and cost
- Raise vital questions and problems
- come to a conclusion by testing them against relevant criteria and standards
- think open-mindedly about alternative forms of thought
- be thorough and deep
11
Q
Define polity
A
Decision-making forum, who and where policy decisions are made
12
Q
Define politics
A
Decision-making process: values, and morals that determine policy
13
Q
Define Policy*
A
Natural resource decisions, course of actions that are implemented
14
Q
Define policy statement
A
written expressions of the intended policy and course of action that an organization intends to pursue
15
Q
Define policy output
A
the direct result of the legislation or policy. the immediate result following policy implementation.
16
Q
Define policy outcome
A
the indirect or unintended results of a legislation. the result of the policy complex. Ex ESA biodiversity consideration
17
Q
define incrementalism
A
policy change is accomplished through small, incremental steps that allow decision-makers to adjust policies in response to prior success or failure. This approach is usually termed “muddling through”, as it was coined by Lindblom
18
Q
Define rational comprehensive governance
A
Decision-making assumes that decision-makers have almost all the information about a problem, its causes, and alternative solutions. Then they weigh these factors and select the best alternative based on readily available criteria such as economic efficiency or anticipated program effectiveness.
19
Q
Define the Monongahela decision
A
placed clearcutting and National Forest management on the agenda of
Congress. wanted Congress to rein in the agency and force it to practice
multiple use management
20
Q
What is the definition of policy and what are the main elements in that definition?
A
Policy is defined as a relatively stable, purposive course of action or inaction followed by an actor or set of actors in dealing with a problem of matter of concern.
Main Elements:
1. A policy must be purposive, it must provide direction
2. Policy requires patterns of decisions made and implemented over time, not merely discrete, individual decisions
3. Policy reflects social choices made through institutions (government or privately)
21
Q
What is sustainable development and what are its three key elements?
A
Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs.
Key elements:
1. Economic: using resource development to improve personal income, quality of life, health and welfare
2. Environmental: producing ecosystem services in ways that do not adversely affect the environment we live in or the ecosystem from which we derive goods and services
3. Social Dimensions:
-Ensuring appropriate processes are used to allocate natural resources for producing various goods and services
-the benefits received and costs borne by segments of society are distributed fairly
-future generations will have opportunities to use natural resources as we do today
22
Q
What is the difference between government and governance?
A
Government is made up of the official rule makers and implementers of policy, but Governance incorporates NGO’s (non government orgs.), communities, interest groups, etc to define, discuss, implement, and assess policies.
23
Q
define agenda
A
Problems that are acknowledged by policy makers and receive serious attention
24
Q
define agenda setting
A
a process to determine if a problem is considered serious enough to be placed on a public policy agenda, or if it is viewed as ephemeral or inconsequential
25
define problem
A question raised for inquiry, consideration, or solution. An intricate or unsettled question.
26
define symbols
helps more people become aware of an issue and enhance the potential for an issue being placed on a specific policy agenda. used for effect or impact; reality and accuracy are often secondary concerns
27
Define substantive policy
requiring specific actions and practices
28
Define procedural policy
require a formal process before federal agencies could promulgate major rules or take significant action (Think APA)
29
Draw and describe the agenda setting model and per the model, (b) discuss how different groups may have different access based on their power and influence.
Powerful groups or well established groups can typically place their issues on the agenda with ease, often behind closed doors. They have the access to policy makers ex. American Farm Bureau They can quickly contact key policy makers avoid alerting others who might have an adverse reaction. An approach of "decide, announce, and defend" well-known groups can function as gatekeepers
Uninfluential or weak groups are denied access unless they can gain sufficient power through coalition building to place their issues on the policy agenda.
30
What are some factors that enhance or limit issue expansion?
A limit is that smaller groups must get a lot of people's support, and sometimes it's hard to get people to support something if they are not directly affected. Issue expansion can make an important issue more well-known to people. It also prevents some of the less-important issues from wasting time or resources that could have been spent on bigger issues.
31
What is a public policy issue and how do they arise?
problems that are recognized, addressed and debated by the public, caused by a dissatisfaction of current distribution of resources and power
initiated by new policy that is introduced, changing opinions and values, external event
4 mechanisms
1. groups that see an unfavorable bias in the distribution of resources (overharvesting of timber)
2. groups that initiate/exploit issues to create gain
3. unanticipated events (BP oil spill, nuclear accidents)
4. groups that don't want to gain immediate benefits (gain satisfaction by gaining public interest/common good)
Types
1. Distribution: short run, goes under public eye, legislation distributes funds
2. Regulatory: specific and individual, big issues (asbestos, water/air pollution)
3. Redistribution: redistributing money from one group to another group (income taxes)
32
Policy issue cycle: (a) Draw the circular policy process model, and (b) describe how that policy model applies to either (i) the hog farm waste issue, or (ii) the Wade Avenue highway extension case. **
33
define equity
Cases in equity seek to have an action enjoined or prevented (i.e., the court issues
an injunction that prohibits the action in question), —the distribution of benefits and costs— (who gains, who pays)
34
Define social criteria
freedom, equity, democracy, decision processes, and others also are used to ensure acceptable and sustainable outcomes.
35
define precautionary principle
a way to make decisions rather than to evaluate whether different decision will reach an objective, but is a key modern ecological principle associated with option values. states that if we do not have adequate knowledge, or if the consequences of a decision could be excessively harmful, we should not choose that action
36
define due process
is the legal requirement that the state must respect all legal rights that are owed to a person. Due process balances the power of law of the land and protects the individual person from it.
37
define boundary conditions
Boundary conditions provide an extreme version of the option value criterion by focusing on whether a policy might alter the planet beyond conditions that will sustain human life. Boundary problem ex. climate, oceans, ozone.
38
Define triple bottom line
Traditional sustainable development is portrayed as having economic,
environmental, and social components, referred to as either the three pillars of sustainability or the triple bottom line
39
define MDGs
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which have become the international focus for achieving sustainable development:
(1) eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, (2) achieving universal primary education,
(3) promoting gender equality and empowering women,
(4) reducing child mortality,
(5) improving maternal health,
(6) combating HIV/AIDS and other diseases, (7) ensuring environmental sustainability, and
(8) developing a global partnership for
development.
40
define SDGs
The MDGs are now being renewed in 2015, and will be termed Sustainable Development Goals.
41
define Gini Coefficient*
A statistical measure of the degree of variation or inequality represented in a set of values, used especially in analyzing income inequality.
42
define human development index
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable and having a decent standard of living.
43
define bottom-up implementation
recognize (1) that policy goals are often ambiguous; and (2) that the goals may conflict with other polices and the norms of low-level bureaucrats; and (3) that there is not a single defined policy, but rather (4) a set of laws, rules, practices, norms that shape the way government and interest groups address problems
44
define top-down implementation
Top-down approaches to policy analysis and implementation assume that (1) there are clearly defined goals against which performance can be measured; (2) there are clear policy tools to achieve the goals; (3) the policy is based on a single statute or statement; (4) there is a policy implementation chain that traces how it should be implemented; and (5) policy designers have good knowledge of the
capacity and commitment of the implementers.
45
define GAO
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducts policy evaluation at the federal level. does program evaluation
46
Define CRS
When members of Congress want information on a policy issue, they turn to the Congressional Research Service. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) works exclusively for the U.S. Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation
47
define monitoring and evaluation**
48
define efficiency
minimizes the waste of natural or other resources; allows more persons to benefit
from a given amount of natural resources; and can ultimately improve the quality of life of more people who can have more goods and services at less cost
49
The Human Development Index and the Gini Coefficient are measures of a country’s quality of life and equality of income, respectively. (a) How does the United States rank in these measures, and (b) what are the implications for government policies? **
50
To decide among {various policy alternatives – I will fill in the blank, e.g., pick either (i) to encourage tree planting on private lands for carbon storage, or (ii) to protect endangered species on private lands, or (iii) to be announced}, (a) what specific criterion or criteria could be used, (b) which would be best, and (c) why?
Ecological criteria, Economic criteria, or social criteria. THEN EXPLAIN WHY
51
Markets and economic efficiency are often touted as being the superior means to allocate any capital or resources. (a) Discuss why markets are particularly important in natural resources, and (b) What disadvantages they may have.
Pros: minimizes waste of natural resources, allows more persons to benefit from a given amount of a resource, can ultimately improve the quality of life of more
Cons: It is difficult to identify all of the costs and benefits associated with a project. It is difficult to quantify some aspects. It is difficult to measure them in comparable units
52
Discuss the differences and merits of top down and bottom up implementation
Top down: more policies are enacted this way, assumption are slightly flawed, overstates need for a clear purpose, intensely political policy
Bottom up: relies more on logical assumption, don't need as clear of a purpose, better for wetland delineation
53
Describe the policy implementation process.
(Statute or policy)->(Agency or organization rules and regulations)->(agency or organization enforcement actions)->(outputs)->(outcomes, intended & unintended)
Official influences: Congress and committees, the judiciary, agency personnel, budgets
Unofficial influences: interest groups, media, citizens, and policy constituents
54
define utilitarian
use a resource to serve the people. ex. Pinchot and the hetch hetchy dam
55
define anthropocentric
Regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence, especially as opposed to God or animals.
56
define environmentalism
1950-1980 emphasizes the interrelationship
between humans and the natural world, especially the threats that human activity poses to the continued viability of ecosystems
57
define greenwash
false/misinformation to present the image of a group as being environmentally responsible
58
Define rule of reciprocity
natural resource professionals should try to treat each other, their human clients, the flora and fauna that they manage, and the environment fairly)
59
define whistleblower
individual who reports policy violations (may face retribution from colleagues)
60
define CSR
corporate social responsibility (CSR) program describing their sustainability principles and practices
61
define biocentric
encompasses all environmental ethics that "extend the status of moral object from human beings to all living things in nature
62
Common pool goods and collective goods are seldom allocated, provided, or protected well by free markets. (a) Describe what each of those goods are; (b) what public policies can be used to allocate and manage these resources, and (c) assess their effectiveness at doing so.
Common pool goods: a type of good consisting of a natural or human-made resource system, whose size or characteristics makes it costly, but not impossible, to exclude potential beneficiaries from obtaining benefits from its use. (think forests and fishing grounds)
Collective goods: Goods that benefit every individual belonging to some group, and where it is hard to exclude any individual from that benefit. (Think air, highways, tv broadcast)
Forestry, fishing and grazing can be managed using local social benefits under community governance: public control or allocations is advocated to ensure proper assignment of costs and social levels of use
63
Policy Selection: (a) In terms of policy instruments, what are carrots, sticks, and sermons? (b) In your opinion, which is more effective for encouraging natural resource conservation on private lands, and (c) why.
Sticks: policies that are mandatory such as regulation
Carrots: policies that offer incentives, mostly economic, to encourage a particular behavior
Sermons: policies that are informational, such as education
Sermons and education may be effective ways to implement a policy when landowners' personal values align with the underlying intent of a public policy but they are unaware of the science or reasons to pursue a particular practice.
ADD OPINION
64
Policy Selection: (a) In terms of policy instruments, what are carrots, sticks, and sermons? (b) In your opinion, which is more effective for encouraging natural resource protection or preservation on private lands, and (c) why.
Sticks: policies that are mandatory such as regulation
Carrots: policies that offer incentives, mostly economic, to encourage a particular behavior
Sermons: policies that are informational, such as education
ADD OPINION
65
Policy Types: (a) Diagram and (b) describe the policy structure model that classes policies according to voluntary and mandatory approaches, as well practices and process tools. (c) Provide one example policy for each of the relevant categories in that scheme.
Mandatory and Voluntary Policy directives are two levels of obligation that provide three different approaches. These approaches include Prescriptive/Technical, Performance/Outcome-Based and Process/ Systems-Based for each level. Prescriptive typically mandatory and process and outcome more typically voluntary.
Process policies identify a particular process or series of steps to be followed in pursuit of a management goal. Performance Based specifies the management outcome or level of performance that must be met but does not prescribe the measures for attainment. Such standards must be quantitative or qualitative.
Diagram:
(policy directive)->(Discretionary/voluntary) or (nondiscretionary/mandatory)
Approach for each: prescriptive/technical, process/system-bassed, or performance/outcome-based
66
define incentives
Cash payments or reduced taxes can be an effective governmental tool to achieve policy objectives. a payment or concession to stimulate greater output or investment. Looking to spur action
67
define subsidies
a form of financial aid or support extended to an economic sector (or institution, business, or individual) generally with the aim of promoting economic and social policy.
68
define exhortation
an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something.
69
define BMPs
best management practices - practices done to have the least impact on the surrounding environment.
70
define BACTs
best available control technology. very stringent.
71
define public choice
Public choice theorists argue that government bureaucrats are self serving, and do not always act in the public interest.
72
define liberty
allow people to achieve their individual desires, maximize their number of choices, foster capitalism and entrepreneurship, and limit government involvement
73
Define bundle of land rights
Traditional Roman law considered the rights to land as a "bundle of sticks" that gave owners various levels of rights to use, acquire, lease, or dispose of property. Now we have two "bundles" that are reserved to the states and to the owners when talking about property.
74
define federalism
A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units. Division of powers
75
define checks and balances
Counterbalancing influences by which an organization or system is regulated, typically those ensuring that political power is not concentrated in the hands of individuals or groups.
76
define constitutional taking
refers to government's acquisition of private property by ousting owners or by destroying the property or impairing its utility.
77
define advise and consent
Describing a situation in which the executive branch of a government enacts something previously approved of by the legislative branch.
78
define prohibition
absolute restrictions of possession or use
79
define electoral college
The Electoral College process consists of the selection of the electors, the meeting of the electors where they vote for President and Vice President, and the counting of the electoral votes by Congress
80
define commerce clause
"to regulate commerce with foreign
nations and among the several states, and with Indian tribes..." This "commerce clause" has been the basis for a host of federal laws affecting interstate commerce, ranging from trucking to minimum wage laws to natural resources such as rivers, water, and air.
81
define reserved powers
10th amendment, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the
Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the
people."
82
define necessary and proper
Clause is as follows: The Congress shall have Power ... To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
83
define taking clause**
84
(a) What is the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution? and (b) what part of that Amendment is particularly important for natural resource management? (c) Why?
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Natural Resources plays a role here when it states how no private land shall be taken for public use. The amendment looks at regulatory taking claims, their distinction from physical takings of private property, and some of the rules that apply in evaluating whether a regulatory taking has occurred. Regulatory taking issues can arise in environmental and natural resources regulation, using the Clean Water Act's Section 404 program and the Endangered Species Act's Section 9 prohibitions are regulatory examples.
85
define bureaucracy
literally the assistants to the president (but really a massive organization which is slow and wasteful).
86
define iron triangle
mutualistic relationship among (1)agencies,(2) interest groups, and individual (3)committees and subcommittees in Congress | benefit each group
87
define lobbying
the activity involved in representing the cause of an interest group in the political system
88
define budget deficit
year in which revenue
89
define national debt
the amount owed by the federal government of the United States. The measure of the public debt is the value of the outstanding Treasury securities at a point of time that have been issued by the Treasury and other federal government agencies.
90
define congressional oversight
includes the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation.
91
Define policy rider
unrelated legislative proposals inserted into "must pass" legislation that would be too important or embarrassing for the President to veto
92
Graph and describe how a bill becomes law
Bill is introduced to House and Senate
Referred to committee
Referred to Subcommittee
Rules Committee Action (House only)
Floor Action
Debate, vote to pass
Conference committee action
Return to house and senate for final approval
Sent to President
Vetoed or Signed
Reconsidered if vetoed
93
What are the constraints on congressional power?
Article One of the constitution
94
Describe the types and functions of congressional committees.
Can be special or select committees (special assignments), standing or conference committees.
Functions include holding hearings (information, propaganda, safety valve, self promotion), actions
(discharge, pigeonhole), subcommittee markup, amend or can consider or ignore the full committee.
95
what are the powers and limits of the legislature?
Powers: Congress (House and Senate) has the ability to enact legislation, raise and allocate funds,
oversight of other agencies, declare war, impeachment, and approve presidential nominations or
appointments.
Limits: Federal checks and balances, constitutional limits (enumerated limits, states' reserved powers,
Bill of Rights, Fifth Amendment, fourteenth amendment), courts (constitutional, breadth and limits of
law, broad legislation with agency and court implementation) and executive veto/ threat, and
implementation vigor.
96
How could the U.S balance the federal budget?
Typically the states balance their budget each year, but the federal government has borrowed liberally
to fund appealing programs and win votes. This has contributed to the US deficit. Balancing it will
require more taxation and less expenditures
97
October 12th and 17th**
98
What do government agencies do?
A government or state agency, often an appointed commission, is a permanent or
semi-permanent organization that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. Agencies can be established by legislation or by executive powers (online answer, not sure what he is looking for)
99
What are the powers and limits of the president?
Powers of the President include commander-in-chief of army and navy, power, with senate input, to make treaties and appoint ambassadors, veto laws or pocket veto (not signing a bill until after its too late in the legislative season), and making executive orders. They appoint about 7000 people including cabinet members, senior executive service, and federal judges. They oversee the whole executive branch which encompasses dozens of agencies and programs and millions of employees. Limits include a max of two 4 year terms, and can be impeached for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. The President is also limited by the legislative branch in that only congress can introduce laws and makes the budget, congressional oversight of the executive branch, and senate approval of
appointments.
100
What are the 3 or more advantages and 3 or more disadvantages of the courts in natural resource and policy?
The advantages of courts in NR policy include that they provide quick decisions and considerations of an issue, can be beneficial for less influential groups, turns vague issues into concrete matters. Some disadvantages include that they are the least democratic branch of government (not elected), only present two sides of an issue, depend heavily on precedents, judges lack technical knowledge on the issues.
101
The Supreme Court has made three key decisions in 2007, 2014, and 2022 regarding EPA’s authority to regulate CO2 and its contributions to global warming. (a) Name those court cases, (b) what emission sources are covered, and (c) their implications for EPA’s efforts to prevent global warming.
Massachusetts v. EPA: landmark case on global warming where 12 states made the case that the EPA needs to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases as pollutants; brought about a change in how many branches had typically ignored global warming caused by GHGs in the past as a policy issue. The court acknowledged global warming in their 5-4 decision calling it "the most pressing environmental challenge of our time" and that the EPA must regulate the emissions of GHGs under the Clean Air Act as pollutants from motor vehicles. Court ruled that Mass. had the right to sue since they were deemed to have likely injury from GHGs and that GHGs were causing climate change.
Utility Air Regulatory Group v. Environmental Protection Agency et al. 2014:
Supreme Court decided by a 7-2 margin that EPA could not regulate stationary facilities on the PSD/permit requirements. However, the Court did support EPA’s further regulation of the point sources through the use of BACT, thus affirming EPA’s general authority to regulate GHGs emitted from stationary sources.
West Virginia et al. vs EPA et al. 2022:
Congress did not grant the Environmental Protection Agency in Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act the authority to devise emissions caps based on the generation-shifting approach the agency took in the Clean Power Plan.
102
In the wildlife case of Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, the Supreme Court stated that plaintiffs must demonstrate three factors to prove they have standing to bring a lawsuit. (a) List the three factors and (b) discuss their implications for natural resource lawsuits.
1. show tangible harm
2. show that harm is imminent
3. show that legal action can improve the problem
It makes it harder for lawsuits to get to court but it filters out some of the more unnecessary one. This can be a pro and a con.
