The Policy Making Process: Setting the Agenda and Making a Decision

1. The Policy Making Process: Setting the Agenda and Making a Decision AP Government and Politics Chapter 15 Homework: Read Wilson, Chapter 15 (441-446) Read Woll, Chapter 8, “Committee Chairmen as Policy Entrepreneurs” (342-343)

2. Something to think about… • Someone once said...“the media doesn’t tell us what to think, but they tell us what to think about.” • To what extent is this true for American political discourse? • What other forces might help shape both what we think about, and perhaps what we think?

3. Policymaking and the Agenda • The most important factor affecting policymaking is what goes on the political agenda. • At any given time, there exist beliefs about the legitimate scope of what government can do. Over the last seventy years, what has been considered legitimate government activity has vastly increased. Politics is now about nearly everything. • There have been several reasons for this increase. • Whatever government now does is generally accepted as legitimate; programs, once enacted, do not have to overcome the presumption that an issue is “none of their business”.. • Events, such as war, depression, or coal mine disaster, seem to require that government do something about aproblem now • Oftentimes, interest groups promote activities of government absent of any real public outcry about a problem or when it might be resolving itself on its own. • Several institutions also play an important role in the agenda-setting process • The courts may force the hands of other political institutions with their decisions • The bureaucracy now often devises and advocates new government initiatives • The Senate has become an incubator for new policies and an instrument for building national consensus for (mostly liberal) national causes • Finally, the press determines what issues to publicize and what issues to ignore

4. The Political Agenda • What items do you believe are currently on the… • PTSD School Board Agenda • Who are the stakeholders? • Who do you think wields the most influence over the actions of the board? • Are there other, more “independent” actors that may choose to take actions or advocate policies on their own