AP Government and Politics
Advanced Placement Government and Politics analyzing American political institutions and processes.
Advanced Topics
Public Policy and the Policy-Making Process
How Government Decides What to Do
Public policy includes all the laws, regulations, and actions taken by government to address issues. The policy-making process involves several steps and many actors.
Steps in the Process
- Agenda Setting: Identifying problems that need government attention.
- Policy Formulation: Developing possible solutions.
- Policy Adoption: Deciding on a course of action, often through legislation.
- Implementation: Putting policies into effect.
- Evaluation: Assessing whether policies work and making changes.
Who's Involved?
Elected officials, bureaucrats, interest groups, and the public all play a role.
Example
Congress passes a health care law, agencies create rules to enforce it, and the public gives feedback on how well it works.
Examples
A new education law is passed after months of debate and public input.
An environmental regulation is revised based on scientific studies and public feedback.
In a Nutshell
Public policy-making is a step-by-step process involving many groups to solve problems.