The+role+of+institutions+in+the+enactment+of+policy



**USI.21 has further information on how the courts and legislature function in a democracy**


 * [[image:rotating gif.gif width="43" height="43"]]See Special Topic Page on The FBI in American Politics**

== The Courts ==
 * Not directly involved in forming policy
 * Can decide whether policy stays implemented or not
 * Executive and Legislative branches will create policies that the Supreme Court will uphold
 * Example: Roe v. Wade
 * Abortion rights and policies varied by state before decision
 * The Supreme Court decided that women have the right to an abortion
 * Referred to "legislating from the bench"
 * Courts can decide if policies are Constitutional
 * Click here to learn more about the courts and Constitutionality
 * Click here to read the paper "Going Public: The Supreme Court's Ability to Influence Public Policy Over Time" by Vanessa Baird


 * **USG.3.4 has information on how the courts work, judicial review, and judicial interpretation in MA and the US**
 * **USG.5.7 has information on the Supreme Court and landmark cases**

The Executive Branch
Click here for a youtube video explaining the relationship between the President and Public Policy
 * The President has a lot of control over public policy[[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Barack_Obama_reacts_to_the_passing_of_Healthcare_bill.jpg/1024px-Barack_Obama_reacts_to_the_passing_of_Healthcare_bill.jpg width="440" height="294" align="right" caption="President Obama Appaulds after the Affordable Care Act is passed by Congress"]]
 * The President wants to stay in office and have a high public approval rating
 * For this to happen, the President pays a lot of attention to issues the public is passionate about
 * The President proposes legislation attempting to fix the issue
 * Example: Affordable Healthcare
 * Affordable healthcare is an issue many citizens support
 * Many health care interest groups call for reform
 * The issue is put on the agenda
 * The issue is discussed and a bill is created
 * Congress approves the bill
 * Obama signs the Affordable Care Act into law on March 23, 2010
 * Click here to read about Obama's agenda

**USG.4.3 for information on the President's powers in foreign affairs**

== The Legislative Branch == Click here for a lesson plan on how to write Bills
 * Congress also has a lot of control over public policy
 * Members of Congress need to have the people's support to stay in office
 * Topics are supported by many citizens
 * Popular issues get on the agenda
 * Members of Congress discuss how to fix the issue
 * Bills are proposed to make the "solutions" permanent
 * The proposed bills undergo discussion in Congress
 * Once approved, the President can sign the bill into law

**Go to [|GovTrack] to monitor the legislative activities of Congress.**

The Bureaucracy
Click here for a lesson plan on iron triangles and issue networks **AP Gov V.A has information on policy making in the federal system**
 * Considered part of the Executive Branch
 * Bureaucracies are supposed to enforce the policies that are created
 * There are theories that claim bureaucracies have an effect on policy making through iron triangles and issue networks
 * Iron Triangle [[image:irontriangle.PNG align="right" caption="The Iron Triangle"]]
 * Alliance of people from a congressional subcommittee, executive agency that enforces laws on the issue concerned, and private interest groups
 * These three groups of people often know each other and can move within the groups
 * They make policies that serve their own interests
 * Issue Networks
 * Group of people who support a particular issue
 * An iron triangle can be part of an issue network
 * The networks can also include media, experts, or generally anyone who has influence and a passion for an issue
 * When all the members of an issue network come together, they can shape policy
 * Click here for more information
 * Click here for more information