POLICY MAKING
• TWO STAGES
– PLACING IT ON THE AGENDA
– DECIDING WHAT TO DO WITH THE ISSUE
• THE AGENDA HAS EXPANDED
– WHY?
– GREATER GOVERNMENT
INVOLVEMENT;INCREASED POLITICAL
PARTICIPATION, STRUCTURE OF GOV’T
POLICY MAKING
• WHAT TO DO?
– 4 DISTINCTIVE POLITIAL PROCESSES
DETERMINE WHAT TO DO
•
•
•
•
MAJORITARIAN POLITICS
ENTREPRENEURIAL POLITICS
CLIENT POLITICS
INTEREST GROUP POLITICS
• WHAT WE DO IS DETERMINED BY THE
PERCEIVED COSTS AND BENEFITS
POLICY MAKING
• PERCEPTION IS REALITY
– IT IS ABOUT WHAT WE BELIEVE THE
COST IS AND WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE
– FREQUENTLY DETERMINE WHETHER
THOSE THAT RECEIVE BENEFITS ARE
DESERVING
– COSTS AND BENEFITS NOT COMPLETELY
DEFINED IN MONEY TERMS
• VALUES: OUR CONCEPTIONS OF
WHAT IS GOOD FOR OUR COUNTRY
MAJORITARIAN POLITICS
• COSTS AND
BENEFITS WIDELY
DISTRIBUTED
• FREQUENTLY
DECIDED BY
MAJORITY OPINION
• EXAMPLES
– SOCIAL SECURITY
– NATIONAL DEFENSE
INTEREST GROUP POLITICS
• COSTS AND
• EXAMPLES
BENEFITS
– LABOR RELATIONS
BOARDS
NARROWLY
– NAZI RALLIES IN
CONCENTRATED
JEWISH
• HIGHLY ORGANIZED
NEIGHBORHOOD
GROUPS LEAD THE
– FCC REGULATIONS
WAY
• CAUSES CONFLICT;
WINNER V. LOSER
CLIENT POLITICS
• COSTS WIDELY
DISTRIBUTED;
BENEFITS ARE
CONCENTRATED
• THOSE GETTING
BENEFITS ARE
WELL ORGANIZED
• THOSE WITH COST
OFTEN UNAWARE
• EXAMPLES
– FARM SUBSIDIES
– PORK BARREL
PROJECTS
– FAVORABLE
GOVERNMENT
REGULATIONS FOR
AN INDUSTRY(MILK,
AIRLINE)
ENTREPRENEURIAL POLITICS
• BENEFITS WIDELY
DISTRIBUTED
• COSTS ARE
CONCENTRATED
• FREQUENTLY LED
BY AN ACTIVIST;
GROUP ANGER
OVER GROUP
BENEFIT CAN ALSO
LEAD TO THIS
• EXAMPLES
– SAFETY FOR
AUTOMOBILES
• RALPH NADER
– WHO PAYS
– ANTIPOLLUTION
REQUIREMENTS
• WHO PAYS?
WHICH POLICY?
• HOMOSEXUALS CONVINCE A CITY
COUNCIL TO PASS AN ORDINANCE
OUTLAWING DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST THEM IN JOBS AND HOUSING
• CLIENT POLITICS- BENEFITS
CONCENTRATED; COSTS
DISTRIBUTED
WHICH POLICY?
• A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
PROMISES TO CUT THE SIZE AND
POWER OF THE FEDERAL
BUREAUCRACY
• ENTREPRENEURIAL POLITICSDISTRIBUTED BENEFITS; COSTS
CONCENTRATED
WHICH POLICY?
• CONGRESS CONSIDERS THE
MILITARY SITUATION IN EUROPE AND
DECIDES TO APPROPRIATE MONEY TO
INCREASE TROOP STRENGTH.
• MAJORITARIAN POLITICS- COSTS AND
BENEFITS DISTRIBUTED
WHICH POLICY?
• THE MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESSIONAL
DELEGATION SEEKS TO HAVE THE F-18
FIGHTER PLANE BUILT BECAUSE ITS JET
ENGINES ARE PRODUCED IN THAT STATE
• CLIENT POLITICS- BENEFITS
CONCENTRATED; COSTS DISTRIBUTED
WHICH POLICY?
• A CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP SUES FOR A
CITYWIDE DESEGREGATION
PROGRAM INVOLVING BUSING.
• CLIENT POLITICS- BENEFITS
CONCENTRATED; COSTS
DISTRIBUTED
WHICH POLICY?
• A GOVERNOR CREATES A
COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF
WOMEN AND APPOINTS SEVERAL
MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST
MOVEMENT TO IT
• INTEREST GROUP POLITICS- COSTS
AND BENEFITS ARE CONCENTRATED?
WHICH POLICY?
• A CAMPAIGN IS MOUNTED TO HAVE A
NUCLEAR WEAPONS FREEZE.
• ENTREPRENEURIAL POLITICSDISTRIBUTED BENEFITS; COSTS
CONCENTRATED
WHAT ABOUT THESE?
•
•
•
•
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
PROTECTIVE TARIFFS
HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL
DON’T ASK DON’T TELL REMOVED