2001 Free Response Question # 4

1. 2001 Free Response Question # 4 By Rebecca Myers

2. Question • Explain how each of the political factors listed below makes it difficult for the federal government to enact public policy. Provide one example of one each. • Divided government • Weak party discipline • Growth in the number of interest groups and political action committee’s (PAC)

3. Define the Terms • Public Policy - governmental entities enact laws, make policies, and distribute resources. • Divided Government - Divided government occurs when different parties control the House and Senate or when the majority in Congress is not from the President's party. • Weak Party Discipline – party members cross political lines to vote for something to benefit their constituents and supporters • Interest Groups - is a group that is determined to encourage or prevent changes in public policy without trying to be elected. • PAC - private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation

4. Divided Government In a divided government it is very difficult for the federal government to enact public policies because one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress which causes a policy gridlock. Many times both sides cant agree on a solution for a problem or need of a policy because both sides have different views on governmental issues. This is caused by the different ideals of each party in power. Example : Bill Clintons Presidency

5. Weak Party Discipline Weak Party Discipline makes it difficult to enact public policy because members may refuse to follow the party policies. Party members set an agenda in a caucus and agree on this policy, and this policy is enforced by the Party Whip but some members don’t follow this agenda. With less members voting along with the party it grows less and less stable. If a majority is needed to pass a bill and party needs more votes they must ask members from the other party. Having weakly disciplined party members only increases their chance that the bill will end up in gridlock and possibly be killed.Example: A Senator from a certain state voting against party lines to appease the people of his state

6. Interest Groups and PAC More interest groups and pressure from the PAC make it difficult for policies to be enacted in the federal government because there are so many groups competing for a chance to have potential policies heard in Congress. This makes it difficult for the federal government to choose just one type of policy to enact on. Example: Environmental Regulations