Policymaking+in+the+federal+system



What is Policy Making ?
Policy making is when a government decides whether or not to act on a particular problem. If it chooses to act, the policy making becomes choosing what action to take.

Who makes policy?[[image:An_Inconvenient_Truth_Film_Poster.jpg width="302" height="447" align="right" caption=""An Inconvenient Truth" raised environmental policy issues"]]

 * Executive Branch
 * Legislative Branch
 * Courts
 * Bureaucracy

Common Areas of Policy Concern

 * Social Welfare
 * Social Policies
 * Economy
 * Environment
 * Budget
 * National Security

Steps in Making Policy

 * Agenda setting or Problem identification
 * An issue comes to the public's attention
 * Usually brought to attention with the mass media
 * Interest groups and political parties grow awareness for the issue
 * Policy formation
 * The legislature and bureaucracies begin discussing the issue
 * Many politicians support the policy to gain votes and support
 * They brainstorm strategies to deal with the problem
 * Policy Adoption
 * A policy is formally chosen as the solution
 * Usually, this is in the form of legislation
 * Policy Implementation
 * Government agencies create procedures, guidance, and grants to support the policy
 * Policy Evaluation
 * Policy analysts decide whether the policy is effective
 * The analysts are both government members and outside experts
 * At this stage, the policy can be revised for optimal success

**Executive Office of the President**
[|Executive Office of the President] from the White House website.

[|Cabinet Secretaries versus the White House Staff]from Brookings

Click here for an article from the Washington Post on what policymakers consider during their considerations

Click here for a link to the Bureau of Labor Statistics information page to evaluate public policies. Includes info on minimum wage, healthcare, retirement benefits, and more Click here for a TED talk from Vasiliki Vass called "Making Public Policy More Fun". Vass is a Canadian, but the principles still apply to US public policy.


 * Click here for a lesson plan that revolves around a politician visiting the class
 * Click here for a lesson plan "Legislative Law: Idea to Law"
 * Click here or here for a lesson plans from iCivics on public issues

United States Foreign Policy
See American Government 4.4 for background on the tools used to carry out United States Foreign Policy

Sources: 1. Prezi by Allyson Colangelo