Political Science 101 POLS: Public Policy - Policy Process Agenda Setting Formulation Adoption Implementation Evaluation Lasswell Easton Kingdoms Multiple Streams Advocacy Coalition Framework

1. What This Is & Why It Matters

The policy process is the series of steps through which a government transforms a problem or issue into a policy. It's a crucial concept in political science because understanding how policies are made and implemented helps us explain why some governments succeed while others fail. Without grasping the policy process, you can't explain why some democracies collapse, why some policies are effective, or why others have unintended consequences.

Consider the example of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. In 2010, President Barack Obama used his executive powers to bypass Congress and implement a key provision of the ACA, which allowed young adults to stay on their parents' health insurance plans until age 26. This move was a strategic use of informal powers, which is a key aspect of the policy process.

2. Essential Thinkers, Concepts & Models

• Lasswell's Policy Process: A five-step model that includes (1) problem definition, (2) policy formulation, (3) policy adoption, (4) policy implementation, and (5) policy evaluation.
  • Definition: A framework for understanding how policies are made and implemented.
  • Why it's still relevant: Lasswell's model is still widely used today to analyze policy-making processes.
• Easton's Systems Theory: A framework for understanding how governments function and make decisions.
  • Definition: A theory that views governments as systems that respond to inputs and produce outputs.
  • Why it's still relevant: Easton's theory is still used to analyze government decision-making and policy implementation.
• Kingdon's Multiple Streams: A framework for understanding how policies are made and implemented.
  • Definition: A theory that views policy-making as a process of matching problems with solutions.
  • Why it's still relevant: Kingdon's theory is still widely used today to analyze policy-making processes.
• Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF): A framework for understanding how interest groups influence policy-making.
  • Definition: A theory that views policy-making as a process of coalition-building between interest groups.
  • Why it's still relevant: The ACF is still widely used today to analyze policy-making processes.
• Policy Feedback Loop: A concept that refers to the process by which policies influence the policy-making process.
  • Definition: A feedback loop that occurs when policies produce unintended consequences that influence future policy-making.
  • Why it's still relevant: The policy feedback loop is still widely used today to analyze policy-making processes.

3. Step-by-Step ‘Political Analysis’

To analyze the policy process, follow these steps:

1. Gather data: Collect data on the policy-making process, including information on the problem definition, policy formulation, policy adoption, policy implementation, and policy evaluation.
2. Compare cases: Compare the policy-making process in different countries or contexts to identify patterns and differences.
3. Test a hypothesis: Test a hypothesis about the policy-making process using statistical analysis or other methods.
4. Analyze the policy feedback loop: Analyze the policy feedback loop to understand how policies influence the policy-making process.
5. Evaluate the policy outcomes: Evaluate the outcomes of the policy to determine its effectiveness and impact.

4. Common Student Mistakes

• Misconception: The policy process is a linear process that involves a series of steps.
  • The right view: The policy process is a complex and iterative process that involves multiple stakeholders and feedback loops.
• Misconception: The policy process is only influenced by formal powers and institutions.
  • The right view: The policy process is also influenced by informal powers and institutions, such as interest groups and social movements.
• Misconception: The policy process is only concerned with the adoption of policies.
  • The right view: The policy process is concerned with the entire policy cycle, including problem definition, policy formulation, policy adoption, policy implementation, and policy evaluation.

5. Exam/Essay Tips

• Multiple-choice questions: Be careful to distinguish between different theories and models of the policy process.
• Free-response questions: Use specific examples to illustrate your points and demonstrate your understanding of the policy process.
• Trap distinctions: Be careful to distinguish between different concepts, such as pluralism vs. elitism, or dual federalism vs. cooperative federalism.
• Integrating the topic into an argumentative essay: Use the policy process to analyze a specific policy or issue and argue for a particular course of action.

6. Quick Practice Scenario

A president deploys troops without Congressional approval – which constitutional principle is at stake?

Answer: The principle of separation of powers is at stake, as the president is exercising executive power without Congressional approval.

7. Last-Minute Cram Sheet

• Lasswell's Policy Process: Problem definition, policy formulation, policy adoption, policy implementation, and policy evaluation.
• Easton's Systems Theory: A framework for understanding how governments function and make decisions.
• Kingdon's Multiple Streams: A framework for understanding how policies are made and implemented.
• Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF): A framework for understanding how interest groups influence policy-making.
• Policy Feedback Loop: A concept that refers to the process by which policies influence the policy-making process.
• Separation of Powers: A constitutional principle that divides power between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
• Impeachment: A constitutional process for removing a president or other high-ranking official from office.
• Executive Privilege: A doctrine that allows the president to withhold information from Congress.
• Policy Gridlock: A situation in which the policy-making process is blocked due to disagreement between different branches or interest groups.
• 'Separate but equal' was overturned by Brown v. Board – Plessy v. Ferguson was the earlier, racist ruling.

8. Further Study Resources

• American Government: Stories of a Nation by David E. Kyvig
• Khan Academy units on the policy process and government decision-making
• Crash Course Government YouTube channel
• The Policy Process by David C. Kingdon