Chapter 3

Foundations of the Policy Process

CHAPTER OBJECTIVES:

• Discuss the differences between public policy and politics.
• Explore the factors that lead the government to create policy.
• Evaluate the various theories of public policy making.
• Summarize the stages of the policy process.

The Great Depression and WWII eras in American history marked a period of rapidly increasing federal government intervention into public policy that had, at one time, been under the purview of state and local governments. For instance, during the 20th century, the federal government passed far reaching policies meant to expand civil rights, decrease poverty, protect the environment, and safeguard workers. After years of expansion, the Reagan presidency ushered in a period of government reductions. President Reagan stated in his first inaugural address: “Government is not the solution to our problems; government is the problem.” He and many others felt that the government should not interfere with the invisible hand of the market; in other words, “no policy is good policy.” This philosophy lead to a decline in the role of government and a desire for policies and services, once provided by the government, to be supported by the private sector and markets. Since that time, many government services have been outsourced to private companies, including defense contractors, private prisons, and private school bus drivers, just to name a few.

The evolution of policy in America, and the ongoing debate surrounding government versus private sector obligations, deserves greater attention. When should the government act, and when should the private sector address public problems? In the following sections, we will address the role and limitations of the government in policy making and assess the goals of public policy. This chapter will also discuss the stages model of the policy process, after which, we will evaluate the ability of the stages model to help us better understand how public policy is made.