The following was submitted as a response to an essay question on my POLS210 final exam…
Lesson 7 presented several national policy matters that have developed over the past 10 to 20 years. Using these examples (from the Lecture Notes), please explain how public policy is formed in the American system of government. How is the problem identified? Who is responsible for determining solutions or setting the public policy agenda? (Hint: Read the examples and ask yourself these questions as you read the information presented about each.) Fully respond to the question and cite sources used.
Public policies are essentially the ideas and tools created to attempt to resolve a problem or fill a need that has been recognized by the government. Recognition of these issues can come from a variety of sources, such as external lobbying—from “grassroots” to corporate sponsored—and internal reviews. Once the issue has been recognized a political figure or group of political figures (senators, representatives, even the President) sets out to advertise the issue and draft proposals and resolutions for the matter. From this point, these drafts go through a process similar to the passing of a law, where the associated committees—elected or appointed, depending upon the issue, level of government or structure of the agency—review and vote up or strike down the proposals; following a passing the policy may become implemented if the associated governing head agrees.
Following the implementation of the policy more review is given to see if the plan is working as it had been designed without causing a greater detriment in any areas related to the issue—worries of financial burden are common. It is not unusual for a policy to be removed after it has been implemented, though it tends to be uncommon. Generally policies are revised to better accommodate and change in needs or regulation.
Unknown. “Unit 7: Politics and the Economy.” 2010. Web/PDF Document. Retrieved 26 Oct 2011, from: https://edge.apus.edu/access/content/group/155085/Unit%207:%20Public%20Policy/Unit7_PublicPolicy.pdf
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