Public policy is an objective-oriented action plan that the government pursues in handling various problems facing the country. The design and application of public policy in the country derives its rationale from the laws. Despite this feature, individuals that are not legislators often set public policy. The government agencies, individuals, and groups that fail to comply with public policies are subject to legal penalties. The power of formulating public policy incorporates division between vast arrays of entities. Defense policy serves as an excellent example in this context. For instance, following the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor, the president conducted a joint session of Congress to seek the declaration of war. This process, …show more content…
At the other end of this continuum, the setting of public policies to dictate all the actions of individuals would result in producing a society based on extreme order. In both contexts, the option of enjoying the existing order or liberty to full extent is impossible without the attainment of adequate balance. At the extreme points, the scope or number of public policies can play an important role in the maximization of order and liberty. This perspective leads to the alternate description of the public policy. Public policy refers to the procedures through which the political establishment balances the need for creating a structured environment and provisions of freedom. Within such an environment, the political establishment can provide mechanisms through which to enjoy the freedoms in a meaningful manner. These policies are developed in order to act as checks for the role of government towards its citizens. The waging of debates relating to social policy usually occurs on two fundamental levels. The big picture perspective encompasses the philosophical and practical implementation levels. From a philosophical standpoint, people may highlight differences in their support for the inaction or action of the government in relation to the priority they place order, liberty or democracy. The opposing views that characterize this scenario have deep roots as well as considerable implications for the ways politicians and
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
The U.S. government’s expansive role in public policy is caught in a swirl of conflicting cross-currents. On the one hand, popular expectations about government’s
Chapter one of American Public Policy, by B. Guy Peters, gives an in depth explanation of what American public policy is. The definition that Peters gives of Public policy is the” sum of government activities whether pursued directly or through agents, as those activities have an influence on the lives of citizens” (4). This definition of public policy can be categorized into three levels that will make differences in citizen’s lives. The first level is policy choices. This level is when, “decisions made by politicians, civil servants, or other granted authority that are directed toward using public power to affect the lives of the citizens” (4). All of these choices that are made by the president, congressman, or others can evolve into a
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
Many believe that order should be applied by the government; though it should be allowed to a certain limit and should not interfere in a citizen’s personal life. However others believe that full freedom should be given to individuals and that nothing should be enforced as it brings along many differences between citizens. This
The public service agencies are organizations that con either be governmental or non-governmental. The agencies are significant in due to the interest they have for the state's citizens. Organizations such as the Agency of International development (USAID), Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the famous American Red Cross, all have different missions, but the agenda of all these organization is to provide service to the citizens. The organizations provide many job opportunities to the citizens, especially positions in the civil service. The agencies are obligated to support people with basic needs including water in case of droughts, electricity to the marginalized. In addition, the organizations provide services like transportation and also aids in communication in case of emerging tragedies, which are inevitable. Special programs are available to assist in the implementation of policies in the agencies, and a critical analysis on the issue of programs is provided in this work. A detailed proposal on public policy is also provided at the end of this paper.
To gain a better understanding of Social Policy we need to look at its definition:
In this essay is about the relationship between the social policy and social problem, but before going into a deep understanding of the two related parts that involve in a society, let is defined each one of them and know what they are and how they connect. When it comes defining the social policy or social problem; there is no one solid definition for them as it has many definitions because of their widely involvement in the society. In Bessant Theories, Mark Considine (1994;2) , fairly recommended that policy is cleverly easy caption that is able to cover parts of actual complicated actions.
Although we live in a nation that places a premium value on personal freedom, it is also a nation whose population considers its own safety and welfare as paramount rights. This creates a need for some measure of public order. Such public order mechanisms are typically expressed in the form of laws. The laws of the United States are an attempt to balance the desire for individual freedoms with the desire for universal safety. (D'Augostino, 2008)
This definition, however, focuses not only on what the government does, but also on what it does not do. Simply put, not all public policy issues are considered or made into laws. Usually, public policy is created when an issue or problem is brought to the attention of the government and the issue is important enough—both to government officials and to the public—to mandate a solution. Issues like the need for Homeland Security are brought about by unforeseen disasters, such as the terrorist attacks of September 11. Others policies are based on research and information from organizations, associations, and ordinary American citizens.
For all of history there has existed the struggle between the strong and the weak. The establishment of government gives the power to a particular group to decide the amount of freedom the majority is allowed, however, though not ideal it provides necessary order. The benefits of security that limitations on freedom provides must be balanced with the individual's pursuit of happiness for citizens to be content. To prevent the governed majority from destabilizing the rulers and seeking power, the government will oppress political and personal freedom of thought. In result, the majority will live under the illusion of contentment and not wish to revolt; those enlightened to the idea that the government should be ruled by the governed, would associate happiness only with ignorance and consequently seek freedom.
This essay will explore three contemporary issues in relation to social policy, whilst supporting these issues with legislation and economic context for each issue.
It is very hard to find a political philosopher who is able to give a complete and fulfilling explanation of society. Theories are simply models to first analyze and then improve society. Hence, since many variables affect them, they are not objective, neither are all-encompassing. It is also necessary to draw a distinction between concrete solutions, which could be valid in real life, and desirable solutions, which could be imprecise relatively to some starting conditions. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that the role of policymakers is not to define factual rules just to maintain the status quo. Since they should vote laws with the purpose of improving our lives, only a normative, and even utopian, conception can change the
Have you ever wondered about the role of government in society? Henry Cloud, a leadership expert and psychologist, claims that “every human being must have boundaries in order to have successful relationships or a successful performance in life” (Cloud). However, on the broader spectrum, can this message also apply to our government? Even if you have not considered these two questions, you will certainly have expectations from the government, which may be related to your wellbeing and/or the society’s wellbeing. Since each individual has different expectations, it is easier to analyze the role of government by considering societal expectations. Societal expectations are commonly shared views about the role of an exceptional government, which would include security, right to equal opportunity, and economic prosperity. Thus, the role of a government is to ensure that the country is moving towards economic prosperity along with providing security to its residents. However, does this mean that all of the government’s decisions are directed towards this responsibility? Unfortunately, this is not always the case; there are many times of when a government oversteps its boundaries by hindering economic progress or sacrificing domestic security. One example of this would be the USA’s decision to send its military aid to Pakistan for fighting terrorism. Nonetheless, there are also many times of when a government acts within its boundaries by ensuring the protection of its residents.