Unit 03: Institutionalism and Incrementalism

Question 1

Structuralist theories

Answer 1

Look at public policy outcomes through the nature or structure of politics, the bureaucracy and society (Miljan, 2017)

Question 2

Dynamic theories

Answer 2

Stipulate that environmental and competitive factors can influence public policy.

Question 3

Institutionalism

Answer 3

The assessment of political institutions such as federalism, Parliament, cabinet and bureaucracy (Miljan, 2017).

Question 4

Federalism

Answer 4

A system of governance characterized by two levels of government and a division of powers.

The best way to look at it is from three different perspectives:

1) division of powers
2) division of financial resources
3) federal control over provinces

Question 5

Division of Power

Answer 5

The federal and provincial governments take on different responsibilities.

Federal, Provincial and concurrent

Question 6

Division of Financial Resources

Answer 6

conditional grants
block grants
equalization payments.

Question 7

Federal Control over provinces

Answer 7

Three key powers for the Federal Government are:

Reservation (the Federal Government reviews provincial legislation through the Lieutenant Governor);

Disallowance (federal government could, in theory, disallow provincial legislation);

Declaratory Powers (federal government could declare an issue a federal power).

Question 8

POGG

Answer 8

Peace, Order and Good Government

used to describe the principles upon which the country’s confederation first took place. It also defines all the principles under which a Canadian Parliament should operate

Question 9

4 Types of Federalism

Answer 9

Cooperative, executive, open, collaborative

Question 10

Cooperative federalism - 1940 and 1960 following the Second World War

Answer 10

The federal government managed to centralize its powers again after an extended period of decentralization during “classical federalism”

• a lot of tension between the governments; however, there was also room for cooperation
• Post-war, intergovernmental relations consisted of a constant exchange of ideas, policies and decisions (Brooks, 2006).
• Dealt with social programs and post-war economic restructuring
• Focus was economic depression resulting in cooperation between federal and provincial governments.

Question 11

Executive federalism - 1960s to the mid-90s

Answer 11

Less corporation and more confrontation. Talks shifted from including public servants to conducting more secretive meetings among politicians.

Executive decisions were usually made in secrecy, it provided minimal opportunity for public debates, particularly with health and welfare decisions

Question 12

Open Federalism- More recently, Stephen Harper

Answer 12

A very decentralized approach to federalism.

Creating more dialogue and corporation between the two levels of government.

Question 13

Collaborative federalism - today

Answer 13

A more cooperative type of federalism where intergovernmental relations are more focused on development and problem-solving.

Question 14

Incrementalism

Answer 14

Focuses more on the players and actors involved in the decision-making process rather than the design of the institutions itself.

• can involve a plurality of actors working together to form public policy based on
• smaller changes rather than whole restructuring
• Charles Lindblom: anoth factor with incrementalism is whether the changes are radical or non-radical, especially with the outcome. Some politicians sought out safer approaches to changing policy due to the nature of the consequences that may result from radical changes being implemented.