Consider: How do we know why government enacts the policies it does?

1. Consider: How do we know why government enacts the policies it does? The Last Word:Assignments 5-6 due Monday

2. The Policymaking Process AP Government and Politics Chapter 16

3. Recall: Who (Really) Has the Power? Pluralism (+) and Hyper-pluralism (-) • Marxist perspective • perceive that government is dominated by capitalists • “Government is the shadow cast by business over society.” • Elite perspective • holds that government is dominated by a few top leaders, but not just economic leaders, “MIC” • The Bureaucratic view (Weber) • holds that the government is dominated by appointed officials.

4. Types of Policies • What is “public policy”? • The intentional course of action (or inaction) followed by government in dealing with a problem or matter of concern. • Distributive: • provide benefits to individuals, groups, communities or corporations; • Most common and least controversial • Widely shared costs, more specific beneficiaries • Student loans, farm subsidies • Regulatory: • Limit choices in order to restrict or encourage behavior; • More controversial • Costs are narrowed, benefits are diffused • Redistributive: • Transferring resources from one group to benefit another group • Also controversial • Obamacare may be one example

5. Policy and Politics • In order to understand who becomes involved in policy formation, and why, and thus perhaps why a certain policy is enacted, we need to examine the costsand benefitsof a particular policy • We can ask, WHO BENEFITS, and to a lesser extent, WHO PAYS, in order to find out how something became policy • Often, the perceptionsof costs and benefits affect the politics of a policy, rather than the actual costs/benefits that will result • Also, questions of whether it is legitimate for a certain group or individual to bear the costs or receive the benefits merits consideration as well. • The politics of policy is often a dispute over who will benefit or pay for a program, and/or who ought to benefit or pay for a program

6. Four Kinds of Policies

7. The Case of Business Regulation • Majoritarian politics • Antitrust legislation – costs businesses but benefits many in society by preventing unfair practices • Interest group politics • Union building vs. corporations attempts to prevent it • Client politics • Milk and sugar subsidies or tariffs, for example, benefit the producers (small groups) in the US, while the cost is borne out by a public which notices little and cares less • Entrepreneurial politics • Pure Food and Drug Act, safer and more fuel efficient cars • The Jungle

8. Agenda Setting Deciding which issues to discuss Systemic vs. governmental Policy Formulation Crafting of proposed courses of action Policy Adoption Approval of a policy proposal Policy Implementation Process of carrying out public policies – methods: Authoritative, incentive, capacity, hortatory Policy Evaluation Did policy achieve its goals? A Model of the Policy-making Process 16.1

9. FIGURE 16.1: What Are the Stages of the Public Policy Process? 16.1

11. "Yesterday was Earth Day. And today we went right back to throwing Jamba Juice cups in the rainforest." –Jimmy Kimmel "It's become clear to me that I've won television. You see, Jon, almost nine years ago I promised to change the world and together, I did it." –Stephen Colbert, stopping by The Daily Show to announce, in character, the real reason that he is ending his show "Joe Biden said the U.S. will help Ukraine with financial aid as long as the leaders tackle corruption. Because if anything stops corruption, it's bribing someone to stop corruption." –Jimmy Fallon "Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is running for re-election, and he's got a catchy campaign slogan: 'Forget my first term. I was on crack.'" –David Letterman "This weekend over 37,000 people went to Denver to participate in the 4th annual Cannabis Cup. And they all made memories that would last a few minutes." –Seth Meyers Consider: What is the federal government’s role with regard to education, according to the Constitution? The Last Word:Assignment 6 for tomorrow, 7-8 for Wed; MC Test Friday

12. 16.2 Health Policy Today • “Entitlement program”– • a type of "government program that provides individuals with personal financial benefits to which an indefinite (but usually rather large) number of potential beneficiaries have a legal right...whenever they meet eligibility conditions that are specified by the standing law that authorizes the program. • Medicare - Created in 1965 - For people 65 and older • Parts A-D • Medicaid Created in 1965 - For people poor and disabled • Must meet eligibility requirements - Low-income • National/state government - Fed block grants cover 50-75% • 50 million Americans covered in 2010 - $400 billion • Expanded by ACA

13. Perceived problem > Rising Costs Technology advances Americans living longer Health care per capita costs 1970 $356 per capita 2013 $9,349 per capita 10 percent of Americans account for 63 percent of all health care costs Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Enacted in response to health care being placed on the agenda – how? Health Insurance in 2000s 16.2

14. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 • Most significant health care legislation since Medicare/Medicaid in 1965 • Very controversial as it moved through Congress and after passage • Goal: • Reduce costs; try and get every American covered • Provisions: • Establish government-run exchanges • Financed by fees and taxes • Prevents denial of pre-existing conditions • Expands Medicaid coverage – burden on states • Requires purchase of health insurance or pay a tax

15. Federal Gov. and Education Policy • Role is not stated; states/localities carry the ball most of the time – 10% of $1.5 trillion overall on Ed spent by fed • Exception would be when mandates are created or funding is withheld • Cold War brought first real fed role in education • NDEA - support for loans to college students, the improvement of science, math, and foreign language instruction in elementary and secondary schools, other aspects • 60s/70s civil rights movements and war on poverty • Elementary and Secondary Education Act • Largest federal education law ever passed; until NCLB • Funding for aid to disadvantaged children • Funds for professional development, materials, resources for educational programs • The government has reauthorized the act every five years since its enactment. • Current efforts • NCLB - The current reauthorization of ESEA

16. Accountability Standardized tests, report cards, reorganization if schools fail Flexibility Schools can tailor expenditures to meet their needs; use federal money how they see fit. Proven methods for quality outcomes Best practices, developed at national level School Choice Vouchers for private or other public schools Charter schools 16.3 No Child Left Behind Act

17. Video: So What? 16 http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDIA_1/polisci/presidency/Oconner_Ch16_Domestic_Policy_Seg6_v2.html

18. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/obamasdeal/view/