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117 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is Administration? |
Used interchangeably with bureaucracy; the organized apparatus of the state for preparation and implementation of legislation and policies |
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What are some characteristics of a bureaucracy? |
- Work divided into impersonal roles of offices filled by different people as needs arise - Always have job descriptions to ensure functions of positions are stable over time (and specialized) - Positions filled through merit recruitment (competitive examinations) instead of political patronage (jobs distributed according to kinship or favor) |
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What is the bureaucracy criticized for? |
being short on imagination, innovation and compassion |
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What are the 2 fundamental roles in the government process? |
Advise political executive and administer laws and policies enacted by the assembly |
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What types of bureaucracies are most under government control? Least? |
Most: public service and agencies directly supervised by ministers (CBSA, Transport Canada) Least: semi/autonomous boards, crown corporations (VIA, CBC) |
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What are regulatory agencies? |
Government agencies established to administer laws in certain fields (such as Canadian Human Rights Commission) |
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What are Crown Corporations? |
Corporations owned by the government that assume a similar structure to that of a private company and operate semi-independently from the Cabinet |
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What is the Deputy PM promoted for? |
Competence; they are rarely fired, unless politically indiscreete |
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What are spoil systems? |
A system based on the assumption that, after winning an election, the political executive is entitled to appoint large number of supporters to the bureaucracy. This is an American practice. The assumption is that the political executive cannot really control the bureaucracy unless it has the support of like minded administrators at the pinnacle of civil service. This results in frank and open politicization of upper levels of bureaucracy |
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What is the Politics-administration dichotomy? |
Politics is the realm where goals are set and choices are made between options (business of minister), but administration is the realm where settled policy is carried into effect (business of deputy ministers) |
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What is a Permanent Secretary? |
The British equivalent of a Canadian Deputy Prime Minister |
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What is an auditor general? |
An official of parliament whose staff audits the expenditures of government departments and who provides an annual report on selected programs |
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What is an ombudsman? |
An official with the power to investigate complaints against government administration |
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What is new public management (npm)? |
A recent approach to public administration that emphasizes efficiency and accountability to the public. They have a wide range of practices and concepts including greater emphasis on performance through the measure of outputs, a move towards lean, small, flat and specialized organizational forms over the traditional organizational hierarchy, increased use of contracts over traditional lines of hierarchial control |
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What is the Political Process? |
The interaction of organized political structures in making and administering public decisions for a society. It produces not only decisions but also pattern of support and resistance to those decisions |
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What is the political system? |
The process of government and politics in any state. Inputs are generated in society (demands and supports) which are then converted into outputs (laws and politics). The impact takes place through feedback which generates new demands and supports |
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What are the 6 structures that carry out necessary function? |
Interest groups, political parties, the mass media, legislatures, executives and the judiciary |
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What are function in political process? |
interest articulation, interest aggregation, communication, making laws, administer laws and adjudicating disputes |
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What are functions? |
Special activites or purposes that structures serve in the political process for example, interest groups function to articulate interests |
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What are structures? |
In social science jargon, organizations or organized patterns of behavior. Begins with plural society and converts into political inputs |
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What are the 4 types of laws? |
1. Regulative Laws: Laws that control individual and organizational behavior (speed limits) 2. Extractive Laws: Laws designed to collect taxes to pay for governing society (income tax) 3. Distributive Laws: Laws designed to distribute public goods and services to individuals in society (health care) 4. Symbolic Laws: Represent the community with images such as a flag or national anthem |
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What are informal institutions? |
An institution that is an integral part of the political process but not established by a constitution (Interest groups, political parties, media) |
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What are formal-legal institutions? |
Institutions explicitly created by a constitution (Elected assemblies, executives and the judiciary) |
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What is a policy community? |
The mix of groups and individuals with a particular interest in a specific policy field. Divided into subgovernment (inner circle) and the discourse community; a broader universe of groups and individuals "who have some knowledge of the policy issue in question and who collectively construct a policy discourse" (outer circle). Usually contains 1+ distinct policy networks. The structure and influence of the policy community in a given policy sector depends on 3 factors: autonomy and political capacity of the state agencies, the strength of the advocacy groups in that sector and the relationship among the members of the subgovernment. They form once a particular policy becomes an issue. An example would be an clean-air standard act, and environmetnal policy community would emerge. |
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What do subgovernments include? |
Government agencies, interest associations, and other societal organizations such as business firms |
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What are Keynesian Economics? |
An economic theory first enunciated by John Maynard Keynes that to promote general economic stability, government should counter balance the private sector, spending (running deficit budgets) in periods of unemployment when the private sector doesn't spend and taxing (running a budget surplus) when the private sector is spending too much |
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What is the Welfare State? |
The characterization of most western democracies from about 1950 to 1985 in which governments functioned as provider and protector of individual security and well-being through the implementation of a wide array of social programs and income transfers to individuals (unemployment insurance, old age pensions) |
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What is neoliberalism? |
An ideological term, generally similar to neoconservatism, characterizing parties or politicians who advocated the government's withdrawal from the economy to allow it to operate of the pre-1900 capitalist principles of laissez-faire |
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What is neoconservatism? |
An ideological term characterizing parties or politicians int he 1980's and after who advocated reducing the role of government through privatization, deregulation, deficit cutting, and elimination of social programs. Sometimes distinguished from neoliberalism in advocating a continuing role for government to promote certain traditional social values (withdraw from economic policy but not from a role of promoting certain social values) |
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What is public policy? |
A course of action or inaction chosen by public authorities to address a given problem or interrelated set of problems. Usually we mean deliberate or conscious decision making |
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What are the three key elements in public policy? |
definition of the problem, goals to be achieves and instruments/means chosen to address the problem and achieve the goals |
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What are some components of the policy making process? |
Demands, outputs, feedback, the authorities environment |
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What are the 6 phases of the policy making process? |
initiation, priority-setting, policy formation, legitimation, implementation and interpretation |
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Describe phase 1: Initiation |
Demands emanate from many groups but it is set in motion when the government has been impressed with the articulation of a demand and decide to look into that matter further |
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Describe phase 2: Priority Setting |
Decide which of the proposals they have selected for consideration in approaching the issue are worthy of adoption |
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Describe phase 3: Policy formation |
Coordination among many federal government departments and may also involve consultation with provincial governments, interest groups, etc. Then, policy communities and policy networks play an increasingly important role at this stage. Draft the bill (memorandum to cabinet) |
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What is a policy network? |
The term used to describe the web of relationships among the members of a particular policy community |
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Describe phase 4: Legitimation |
Proposals enter legislating area (HOC and senate). At this point, the main intent/principle of the bill cannot be changed without going back for cabinet's approval. It's the legitimation stage because bill is now put under scrutiny and made legitimate by approval and ends with token of approval from governor general |
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Describe phase 5: Implementation |
Must set up new administrative machinery for bill (Staff, agencies) must be created, and drafing to detailed regulations by bureaucracy can be added to the "skeleton" of the bill. Regulations are then scrutinized by the Standing Joint Committee on the Scrutiny of Regulations |
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What are regulations? |
The detailed rules drafted by the bureaucracy under the authority of the laws passed by Parliament that are too voluminous and technical to put in the legislation itself |
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What is the Standing Joint Committee on the Scrutiny of Regulations? |
The joint parliamentary committee appointed to wade through the voluminous regulations issued by the government departments under the authority of legislation and that has the power to recommend rescinding such regulations |
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Describe phase 6: Interpretation |
Judicial interpretation stage. Making sure that bill does not contrast the Charter of Rights |
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What are the three different sectors? |
Public Sector: The part of the economy operated or financed by the government Private Sector: The profit-oriented, nongovernmental part of the economy Voluntary Sector: The non-profit sector of the economy, as opposed to the public sector and the profit-oriented private sector |
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What is the most popular vehicle for expressing concerns? |
Joining a group |
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What are stakeholders? |
Those individuals, groups, corporations or other organizations who have a stake in any issue; the principle players involved in any policy community. |
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What are Policy Instruments? |
The devices chosen by the government to effect public policy that are commonly categorized according to the degree of intervention, intrusiveness or coerciveness they represent. It is usually best to choose the least intrusive instrument but can also be ranked by how much change they represent or change lives |
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Describe the Policy Instrument of Privatization |
Take no action at all and leave problem to be handled by private sector. Either completely ignore the problem or refer question to a private-sector authority (medical/legal associations) |
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Describe the Policy Instrument of Symbolic Repsonse |
Issuing a statement of government concern, consulting with those raising the problem, passively dismissing info, appointing a task force or royal commission or setting up a new government department. The royal commission is appointed to take heat off government in some problematic situation in hope that by the time commission reports, the problem will be gone |
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What is a Royal Commission? |
An elaborate investigation set up by the cabinet to research a significant policy problem, to listen and to educate the public and to make recommendations to the government |
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Describe the Policy Instrument of Exhortation |
Government urging public to change their behavior in some way (ex - using commercials encouraging physical fitness) |
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Describe the Policy Instrument of Tax Expenditures |
A policy instrument that provides a tax credit or deduction if taxpayers spend their money in a desired way. This can include putting money into retirement plans, certain investments, contributing to political parties |
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Describe the Policy Instrument of Public Expenditures |
Involves actual disbursement of funds acquired and controlled by the state. The Spending power of the government is the right to spend money for any purpose it chooses |
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What is Spending Power? |
the unofficial power of the federal government to spend money on any subject, including those within provincial jurisdiction, and even to attach conditions to such grants to the provinces |
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Describe the Policy Instrument of Regulations |
Almost every aspect of our lives is regulated by the government (but that is not always a bad thing). This interferes with individual/corporate freedom more than any other instrument and is more frequently criticized |
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What is Deregulation? |
A government policy that removes previous regulations, especially those affecting the corporate sector |
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Describe the Policy Instrument of Taxation |
Moire intrusive than regulation because it takes something tangible from those it is imposed on |
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Describe the Policy Instrument of Public Ownership |
A policy instrument involving government purchase ("nationalization") of a private corporation or the creation of a crown corporation. Usually takes form of a crown corporation. Public enterprise is usually only used as a last resort (ex - Air canada in the 1980s-90s) |
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What is privatization? |
Transferring a government program, agency or crown corporation to the private sector, such as by selling shares in a crown corporation to the public at large or to a private firm |
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Describe the Policy Instrument of State of Emergency |
A policy instrument that involves the greatest degree of intrusion and coercion on the part of the state, now based on the Emergencies Act rather than War Measures Act. Government can evoke emergency powers in emergency situations |
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Describe the War Measures Act |
The law invoked during both world wars and the 1970 FLQ crisis under which the federal cabinet was given emergency powers to deal with a crisis; replaced by emergencies act |
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What are the three approaches to policymaking? |
State-based approach: Policymaking process functions without significant input from society as a whole Rational Choice Approach: initiation and priority-setting phases the cabinet will choose to look into and act on will be those that are in self-interest Analysis Approach: whatever the formal phases of the policy making process, the political system ultimately responds to the demands of the bourgeoisie or corporate elite |
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What kinds of organizations are advocacy groups? |
Private organizations; internal structure and operations are usually closed to public view |
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What is the main difference between Advocacy groups and Interest groups? |
I: Usually found for non-political purposes, have collective action (but it is easy to see how it could become political) A: Movement/group that try to influence public policy; essentially, any organization that seeks to influence public policy but not to govern. Focuses on only own goals, don't run candidates for election for public office and detach from day-to-day activities of group (this can create controversy over legitimacy) |
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What is collective Action? |
The organized pursuit of a shared goal by a group of people; can be formal and structured or informal and loosely structured |
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What are the 2 broad categories of advocacy groups? |
Membership based: internally democratic (at least in principle); members participate in decision making, influence leaders of the group Staff-led groups: few members, rely on financial donations from supporters. This model allows people to act quickly and not have to ask members for opinions |
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What is the dilemma of advocacy groups? |
Demands of participation in the subgovernment cannot be met without the financial and moral support of their members but advocacy groups leaders cannot respond to quickly to requests for info and advice if they are required to seek approval from all of their members on everything |
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What is political capacity? |
The tangible and intangible resources that an advocacy group can devote to its participation in the policy community. If it has sufficient policy capacity (expert knowledge and the resources to mobilize its members to implement a new program) it can become a member of the subgovernment |
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What are some factors that determine by Political Salience? |
- size, cohesion, socioeconomic status and political leverage of its membership - Willingness and ability to build coalition with like-minded groups - Tangible and intangible resources |
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What are some key ingredients for policy capacity? |
- Tangible resources (money, staff) - Intangible resources (expertise, reputation) - Costs a lot of money and time |
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What is co-optation? |
The process by which an advocacy group, which opposes certain elements of state policy, is induced ti accept the ideology or the policy priorities of the government. The most powerful tool is public funding, although some groups fear that a close working relationship with state agencies could have same effect. Groups that oppose or fear the status quo on principle fear that the exercise of power might erode their independence and even erode their leaders |
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What are the 3 distinct ways that advocacy groups engage in the policy process? |
lobbying, representation, consultation |
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What is Lobbying? |
The effort to influence public policy directly, by persuading decision makers in the political and permanent executives to adopt the goals of a particular group or individual. May be public or private. They influence government decision makers to incorporate its goals into public policy and usually is directed towards to executive branch |
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What is representation? |
In the context of the policy community, representation is the midpoint between lobbying from the outside and consultations on the inside. Representation entails speaking on behalf of a particular interest, usually at the invitation of a state, but unlike consultation, it may not reflect a continuing and close working relationship between the advocacy group and the government agencies in a particular policy field (ex: public hearings) |
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What is consultation? |
A state-sponsored process of cooperation between one or more government agencies and select advocacy groups. May include the development of public policy, the shared implementation of new programs, or alternative service-delivery arrangements. This is a continual two-way flow of communication, initiated by government and an ongoing process unlike representation |
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What is a policy community? |
The mix of groups and individuals with a particular interest in a specific policy field. Divided into subgovernment (inner circle) and the discourse community, a broader universe of individuals "who have some knowledge of the policy issue in question and who collectively construct a policy discourse" (outer circle). Usually contains one or more distinct policy networks. The structure and influence of the policy community in a given policy sector depends on three factors: the autonomy and policy capacity of the state agencies, the strength of the advocacy groups in that sector, and the relationship among the members of subgovernment. This is how much decision making in Canada occurs |
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What is a discourse community? |
The outer circle of the policy community |
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What are the 5 key differences between advocacy groups that are included and those that are excluded from government? |
1. Some groups possess the structure and resources to meet demands of some subgovernment positions 2. Some members are prepared to make compromises in securing some policy goals while others aren't 3. Group that espouses mainstream policy positions are more likely to gain access to the subgovernment than one that speaks for a "fringe" element 4. Leader with experience in field will enjoy more influence than a new one 5. Group that forges long term coalitions with other subgovernments will be more effective than one that isolates itself from potential allies |
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What is Political Salience? |
1) The perceived legitimacy of a particular advocacy group; the congruence between its goals and those of government 2) The importance accorded to a particular policy issue at a given time by the news media, advocacy groups, Respondents to opinion surveys and/oir politicians. The political salience od a particular issue at a given time is reflected in its positions on the political agenda: the most salient issues (like healthcare) receive the greatest amount of government attention, whereas those with less salience may be ignored. The salience of an issue is not a function of its intrinsic importance. (EX: Environmental issues in 20th century took backseat to terrorism and wars) |
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What is the LRA? |
Lobbyists Registration Act |
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What are the 3 types of lobbyists? |
1) Consultant lobbyist - individual who seeks to influence a public officer holder on behalf of a client, in exchange for monetary payment 2) In-House corporate lobbyist - person who works for a commercial company (other than a lobbying firm), and who spends a certain amount of working time on lobbying the federal agreement 3) In-House organizational lobbyist - similar to corporate but he or she works for an entity other than a for-profit corporation |
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What is public interest litigation? |
The effort to change laws and other government policies through the courts. In the charter context, this involves a legal challenge to the constitutionality of a particular law or program, or a claim that a specific government official violated the rights or freedom of the plaintiff |
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What is a Non-government organization? |
A group that operates outside the formal structure of government, as defined in the constitution, and that seeks to participate in the policy process (agenda setting to policy formation and ultimately implementation) |
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What is the role of the public servant? |
Speak truth to power without the fear of reperrcussion and follow ministerial diretion |
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What were some controversies regarding public servants? |
- Wearing the Stephen Harper Hates Me buttons - Muzzling of government scientists; don't want them talking to the media |
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What are some theories regarding the policy cycle |
1) Rational approach - problems uncovered by technical expertise 2) Multiple streams approach - Focuses on different factors or "stream"; creates policy window 3) Punctuated equilibrium - Usually policies are subjected to equilibrium; external shock can create widespread change |
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What are three theories of decision making? |
1) Rational Conception - decisions based on assessing alternatives and choosing optimal modes based on evidence not entirely realistic 2) Incrementalism - Focus on feasibility of options, more realistic 3) Garbage can model - Decision making is highly ambiguous and unpredictable (haphazard) |
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What is the GINI coefficient? |
measures the distribution of income in a society. 0% would be perfect equality, 100% would be maximum inequality (one person has money but no one else does). The lower the number, the better the mobility |
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What is the 1%? |
The richest group in society (1% of society). They may cause a problem. shows the uneven distribution of wealth across society and is often found in celebrities, athletes |
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What is the Low Income Cut-off (LICO)? |
An income threshold at which families are expected to spend 20% points more than the average family on food, shelter and clothing |
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What is the low income measure (LIM)? |
Defines as families below 50% of median income |
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Why did Welfare have a slow start in Canada? |
- transitioning from largely agricultural economu - Conservative interests, parties and ideas - not always open to change |
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Discuss Welfare Post WW2 |
- Amendment created in 1940 -1944: Family allowance benefit - Old age security introduced |
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What are the three pillars of social policy? |
Income security, health and redistribution |
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What is the intergenerational equity? |
Current workers are paying more into the system and past generations are benefitting from this; the elderly and the adults benefit but not children (each generation is more worse off) |
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What is Employment Insurance (EI)? |
Redistributes income between different regions and sectors of the economy; creates disincentives to working and to labour mobility |
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What is the poverty trap? |
Incentives for people not to bother with taking employment if they will just get welfare cheques |
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what percent of all total health care expenditures are not covered by public plans? |
1/3 |
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What is the Canada Health Act (1984) |
Reiterates the principles of medicare; it is regarded as the patient's bill of rights - any discussion of reform immediately revokes concern |
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What are the 5 principles of the Canadian Health Act? |
1) Public Administration 2) Comprehensiveness (all medically necessary services must be insured) 3) Universality (uniform terms and conditions for access) 4) portability 5) Accessability |
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What is the federal role in the CHA? |
Often seen as having a legitimate role in defending public health care; only binding on federal government, provinces can act as they wish |
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When was the first multiculturalism policy adopted? Under which Prime Minister? |
1971 Pierre Trudeau; he linked individual rights with equal status |
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What are the 4 key principles of the multicultural policy? |
Equality of status, Canadian Identity, personal choice, protection of individual rights |
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Name the types of migrants |
- Immigrants (voluntary arrival with bringing economic benefits) - Refugees (forced to flee home country and cannot return) - Asylum Seekers - Intentionally displaced persons - Stateless persons - Evacuees (temporary status) - Guest/Temporary worker (expected to leave upon completion of job) |
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What did the 1967 Immigration Act introduce? |
A points system based on occupational experience, edcuation and language expertise |
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What is the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (2002)? |
Impose more restrictions on entry, faster integration, more flexible points system, greater emphasis on language and limited appeals for refugee process. It has been criticized to be coutnerproductive |
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What is Judicial Review? |
The power of courts to strike down a law enacted by the legislature |
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What is Judicial Activism? |
A willingness to strike down legislation or block government decisions that are contrary to the constitutions |
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What is the Reasonable Limits Clause? |
Refers to section 1 of the charter: "Guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society". Essentially, the legislatures can infringe your rights more than necessary and for a good reason |
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What is the Notwithstanding clause? |
Refers to section 33 of the charter: "Parliament of the legislature of a province may expressively declare in an Act of Parliament or of the legislature, as the case may be, that the Act or a provision thereof shall operate notwithstanding a provision included in section 2 or 7-15"; essentially viewed as the override, and parliament can "undo" bad supreme court decisions |
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Discuss the Case Example or Prisoner Voting Rights |
ban on prisoner voting was struck down by the court as this violated voting rights (symbolic law) twice |
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What was the Morgentaler Case (1988)? |
Women seeking abortion had to get certificate from an "Abortion Committee" but courts struck that down as it took too long. However, this was not declared as a right to abortion |
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What was the Rodriguez Case (1993)? |
Prohibition on assisted suicide and decided to uphold that law |
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What was the Chaoulli case (2005)? |
Prohibition on purchasing private medical insurance in Quebec. Struck down because it was unconstitutional but people thought they should not have to wait if they can pay for medical care |
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What is the Bedford Case (2013)? |
Challenges to anti-prostitution laws; validates sex worker's rights to life liberty and security of the person |
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What is the Canadian Health Transfer? |
it is the Canadian Government's transfer payment program in support of the health systems of the provinces and territories in canada. Funds must be used by provinces and territories for purposes of maintaining national criteria (as set in the Canadian Health Act). It is made up of a cash and tax transfer. |
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What is income security? |
An investment that provides a return in the form of fixed periodic payments and the eventual return of principle at maturity. Some income security programs include the canadian pension plan and old age security. Essentially, you are paying into a program that will eventually reward you with your money back at the maturation of the investment. |
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What is incrementalism? |
One form of decision making. It focuses on the feasibility of options and is more realistic at approaching decisions than the rational conception. It is a trial-by-error form of decision making. For example, try one way to solve a problem and if that does not work, then try a different way. It is criticized because it requires a fairly stable policy landscape which isn't always possible, and promotes short-term decision making. |
