1. Define public policy (give at least one example)? Discuss and explain fully what is meant by the “context of public policy?” Describe the context(s) by which public policy emerges? List the theorists and explain (fully) each of their contextual perspectives of public policy? Which of these perspectives best seem to explain public policy context for you and why? Public policy, simply put, is the decisions or non-decisions made in response to a general problem, a problem-solving mechanism if you will. An example of such may be the controversy of same-sex marriage. The courts and the legislatures will take into account several factors that will ultimately contribute to the public good. The illegalization of prostitution is a public policy
…show more content…
Public policymaking is the totality of the decisional process by which a government decides to deal or not deal with a particular problem of concern. List and explain fully the approaches to public policy decision-making (not to mention their respective theorists). Where does Charles Lindblom’s “incrementalism” fit into this discussion? Identify and discuss the rational decision-making approach (HDL) including the steps in that process. List and describe the other policymaking and decisional processes discussed by Shafritz, Layne and …show more content…
Two opposing approaches to public policy making have been proposed in order to attempt to explain the systems of policy decisions or non decisions, one by political scientist, Harold D. Lasswell and the other by professor emeritus of political science, Charles E. Lindblom. Lasswell’s theory is known as the rational decision-making approach, which is explained in his book, The Future of Political Science. This approach discusses seven phases of decision-making: the intelligence phase, the promoting or recommending phase, the prescribing phase, the invoking phase, the application phase, the appraisal phase, and the terminating phase. There have been oppositions and noted issues with Lasswell’s list, however. Essentially, it is pretty much impossible to be so thoroughly logical when assessing issues and concerns and this list simply cannot be effectively followed. Instead, many policy makers prefer to exercise the bounded rationality approach proposed by Nobel Prize winning economist, Herbert Simon in his book, Administrative Behavior. “Bounds” are essentially what people place on their decision. Ultimately, it is impossible for us as human beings to explore every single alternating when making decisions. Instead, we settle for satisfactory information rather than optimal information and we “saticfice” (satisfy/sacrifice) on our
Public policymaking is the totality of the decisional process by which a government decides to deal or not deal with a particular problem of concern. List and explain fully the approaches to public policy decision-making (not to mention their respective theorists). Where does Charles Lindblom’s “incrementalism” fit into this discussion? Identify and discuss the rational decision-making approach (HDL) including the steps in that process. List and describe the other policymaking and decisional processes discussed by Shafritz, Layne and …show more content…
Two opposing approaches to public policy making have been proposed in order to attempt to explain the systems of policy decisions or non decisions, one by political scientist, Harold D. Lasswell and the other by professor emeritus of political science, Charles E. Lindblom. Lasswell’s theory is known as the rational decision-making approach, which is explained in his book, The Future of Political Science. This approach discusses seven phases of decision-making: the intelligence phase, the promoting or recommending phase, the prescribing phase, the invoking phase, the application phase, the appraisal phase, and the terminating phase. There have been oppositions and noted issues with Lasswell’s list, however. Essentially, it is pretty much impossible to be so thoroughly logical when assessing issues and concerns and this list simply cannot be effectively followed. Instead, many policy makers prefer to exercise the bounded rationality approach proposed by Nobel Prize winning economist, Herbert Simon in his book, Administrative Behavior. “Bounds” are essentially what people place on their decision. Ultimately, it is impossible for us as human beings to explore every single alternating when making decisions. Instead, we settle for satisfactory information rather than optimal information and we “saticfice” (satisfy/sacrifice) on our