THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESS

Policy:  Description and Explanation of government activities to solve a problem

STEPS IN THE PROCESS                         

1.  Agenda Setting:  How problems are  identified  (Energy)

• Major Questions:  What is the problem?  How does the issue get on the public agenda? 
• Example:  Need to address energy problem.  President Bush (43) argued that more exploration for fossil fuels needed in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.  Congressional Democrats and environmentalists oppose these efforts.

2.  Policy Formulation:  The course of action to solve the problem  (Global Warming/Climate Change)

• Major Questions:  What kind of solutions are proposed?  Which actors are involved in the process?
• Example:  President Bush (41) supported voluntary measures to address global warming while President Clinton supported mandatory guidelines.  Environmental groups and the fossil fuel industry try to shape policy making

3.  Policy Legitimation:  Justification for government action backed by legal force  (Ozone Layer)

• Major Questions:  Who supports it and does it have majority support?
• Example:  U.S. worked with international community to address stratospheric ozone depletion.  President Reagan, scientific community, business and industry, environmental groups worked together in support of the Montreal Protocol (1987)

4.  Policy Implementation:  Who administers the program and the resources provided to do so (Energy)

• Major Questions:  How are programs put into effect?  Which institutions are involved and are sufficient funds provided?
• Example:  President Carter addressed the energy problem facing the nation but had difficulty dealing with Congress including fellow Congressional Democrats in terms of addressing the problem

5.  Policy Evaluation:  How we judge or determine whether the policy is achieving its goals  (Clean Air)

• Major Questions:  Is the policy working or not?  Is the policy producing the expected outcome?
• Example:  The Clean Air Act of 1970 received the support of President Nixon and Congress and is viewed as producing cleaner air in US cities

6.  Policy Adjustments/Termination  (Endangered Species)

• Major Questions:  What changes have been made?  Which institutions made them?
• Example:  In response to concerns about how the Endangered Species Act was being implemented, the National Biological Service  was created by President Clinton in order to improve information gathering

Source:  Adapted from Thomas R. Dye, Understanding Public Policy, 14th ed. (Pearson, 2013).  Also see Vig and Kraft's Environmental Policy, pp. 10-11