PS

Political Science 220 with Malekafzali at University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign

About this deck

By: Amy Allen
Textbook:

Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies (Longman Classics Edition) (2nd Edition)

The Politics of Power: A Critical Introduction to American Government

Understanding, Informing, and Appraising Public Policy
Created: 2008-12-15
Size: 15 flashcards
Views: 15

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What factors are important in problem id?

indicators, crises, feedback on programs, definition of issues

What factors influence a problem's status on the agenda?

budgets

What factors distinguish inside and outside participants?

outside: less accountability, fewer legal limits, no legal authority to make police

Most powerful outside participant?

Interest groups

others: academics, media

On what type of issues are interest groups more powerful & why?

less idealogical ones, ie transportation, business interest groups are most powerful and financial interest groups will step in to fill void of no compelling idealogical interest

What stages of the policy process do interest groups influence?

agenda setting & alternative specification
role in agenda setting is often negative
come up with alternatives even if they would prefer the issue isn't on agenda
attach solutions to issues on agenda

What factors determine interest group success?

Geographic distribution, financial resources, ability to mobilize voters, ties to economic prosperity

reinforces class differential in what issues get attention

Why are issues important to the wealthy more likely to get on agenda?

Interest groups influence agenda setting process, interest groups representing interests of rich people tend to be more successful

What role do academics have in policy process?

primarily alternative specification, coming up with airline deregulation

Why is the influence of academics on the policy process primarily long term in nature?

academics come up with alternatives, often takes a while to find a problem to be matched with them, though alternatives can rise on their own

What is the media's role in the policy process?

reflects what the gov does, doesn't really influence gov, but is used for publicizing ideas

What role to elections & campaigns have in the policy process?

changing those who are involved in it,
primarily affect agenda setting, cong and pres, major agenda setters, are elected

What role do campaigns/parties have in policy process?

campaigns=>candidates bring up issues and voters may hold them accountable
parties=>platforms are vague, more in issues than problems, obama

What is public opinion's role in the policy process?

agenda setting more than alternatives, public sees problems, expects gov to come up with solutions

What distinguishes visible & invisible participants & their roles in the policy process?

visible: congress, interest groups, media, pres
invisible: academics, interest groups

visible deals more with agenda setting, invisible with alternative specification, due to incentives & resources of each