Policy Is The Pursuit Of Goals

Chapter seven of Social Problems by Joel Best was about how policies are made and the process of getting a policy noticed. The chapter explains what policy domains are (201). Best also explains Kingdon’s policy stream model (204-207). Best goes on to explain the pressures put on policymakers (211). Best ends the chapter talking about the rhetoric of policymaking (216).

Social policies are defined as actions taken by governing bodies such as schools or welfare systems that create action in society and cause implications for its members, they’re

This article provides the audience with an adequately clear and convincing stance to explain what public policy is, and other academic literacy related to public policy, which included some famous theories. The main theme of this article is that public policy is intricate and no scholar can analyze any policies with one particular theory or model. In addition, the author argues that the public policy is multidimensional and it influences every citizen’s life profoundly.

This paper is a review of chapter’s one (1), two (2) and three (3) in Thomas A. Birklands (2016) fourth edition regarding policy process. The reading attempts to define and show what is meant by policy process, how government, politics and the public are intertwined, problems that are associated with the policy process and how we address the problems. Current day events as well as past history are applied to the practice of policy process which assists in defining the process and highlighting its connection and importance. Thomas A. Birklands refers to the Clinton administration, the Obama administration and the George W. Bush administration, the DARE Program, World War II, and the Vietnam War, in the chapters and leads us down a path discussing

The first step in creating this a new policy is the idea on how to address the current problem. During this first step, brainstorming is often encouraged during the formulation process so that there is more than one potential solution to the problem (Lohrey, 2014). Another consideration for policy formulation is determining if the policy will need to involve local, state, and/or federal government involvement to be put on their agenda. There are many ways to approach any given problem, and during policy formation, relevant individuals (such as stakeholders and researchers) and groups will determine the different ideas to approach the proposed policy.

In this assignment I am going to analyse how government policies are developed, covering all aspects of the policy making process.

The formulation stage is very important, as this is the stage that must gather all information necessary to make an effective policy. Stakeholders and a committee will come together and discuss what

There are a number of ways the policy can make it on the agenda but usually the agenda is priority oriented. “Once a proposal has been added to agenda, policy adoption begins” (Jillson, n.d., p.1). The policy can be changed in various ways or adopted as is along the process. After adoption the policy is implemented by government agencies and carried out by legislative acts, rules and regulations. Lastly, there will be an evaluation of the public policy to decide whether it was successful in achieving its designed purpose (Jillson, n.d.).

What is Public Policy? According to (Merriam-Webster 2015), Public Polices are the governing policies that cover citizens, and are policies that can allow the government to stop any action that is contrary to the public good.

Public policy is a system of laws that the government created for the citizens in order to maintain order. Public policy should be fair for all the citizens, however, on many occasions it is hard to accommodate for all races and social classes such as lower, middle, and upper class.

“Policies and procedures are like a state road map. The map at a glance shows areas of interest and the general direction in which to travel to reach a desired estimation. The roads on the map provide possible paths to reach a particular destination. If the correct roads are followed, the destination can be

Lynn tells us that public policy is the output of a political system that comprises individuals who come together in small groups within the framework of organizations characterized by hierarchy, the division of labor, and specialization. Laswell put it simply as who gets it when, where, why and how. So in response to the posed question, the answer is there is no true definition and that each scholar and organizational unit create the definition that serves them the best.

The streams model was developed John Kingdon in 2003. It is a powerful tool in understanding policy process. It consists of three parallel processes: problem streams, policy streams, and politic streams (Knaggard, 2015). These three parallel process can also go under multiple different names. Problem streams refers to policy problem that requires attention; issues that capture everyone’s attention (Howlett, Ramesh and Perl, 2009). Policy streams, also known as solution streams, pertains to many potential policy solutions that originate from communities of policy experts, also known as, ‘policy primeval soup’ in which policy ideas and solutions are formed, rejected, and selected (Howlett et al.). Lastly, political streams refer to social and political factors such as public opinion, election results, and demands of interest groups (Howlett et al.). Kingdon states that when the three streams joined at a critical moment, it would constitute a policy window (Chow, 2014). When this window opens, the issue becomes part of the policy agenda and policymaking steps will follow (Chow). The convergence of streams is determined by the presence of policy windows and the actions of policy entrepreneurs (Chow). Policy entrepreneurs, actors who introduce and promote ideas, will the spend time to increase their chances of getting an idea placed on the decision-making agenda (Chow).

Public policy may be defined as organizing framework of purposes and rationales for government programs that deal with specified societal problems or a complex of programs enacted and implemented by government. Program implementation is that set of activities directed toward putting a program into effect. Three activities, in particular are significant in program implementation. They are organization, interpretation and application.

The nature of policy is a multidimensional and there are various definitions of what public policy is. According to Fox, Schwella and Wissink (1991:27-28) the following basic fundamentals of public policy can be identified and are summarised below:Policy is developed by government role players, "although non-government role players may influence the policy formulation and development" and public policy is a "purposive or goal-orientated action rather than random or chance behaviour" (Fox, Schwella and Wissink: 1991:27). Hanekom (1987:7) further elaborates and describes policy-making as "the activity preceding the publication of a goal" and it is therefore a "formally articulated goal that the legislator intends pursuing with society." Botes et al (1992:191) further describes public policy making as being the "systematic actions" which should be taken to achieve the goals of the relevant institution. Fox, Schwella and Wissink (1991:27-28) further state that public policy generally consists of a series of decisions taken jointly by politicians and/or officials rather than individual decisions. Public policy is a "future-orientated", changing document which is aimed at the general welfare of the public (Fox, Schwella and Wissink: 1991:29).