Public policy
Public policy refers to the decisions and actions taken by government entities to address public issues and guide the functioning of society. Originating from Latin and Greek roots, the concept has evolved through various disciplines, particularly political science. It encompasses a wide range of areas, including education, healthcare, employment, and transportation, shaping the frameworks within which communities operate. Public policy can be seen as both what governments actively do and what they choose not to do, influencing everyday life and societal order.
The creation and implementation of public policy involve multiple stakeholders, including government officials, economists, and citizens, all of whom contribute to identifying problems and formulating solutions. The process typically begins with recognizing a public concern, followed by policy formulation, adoption, and execution. After implementation, policies are evaluated for effectiveness, and adjustments are made as necessary. Given the dynamic nature of societal challenges, public policymakers must consider various factors such as public opinion, economic conditions, and security when making decisions. By the twenty-first century, there has been a growing emphasis on evidence-based policymaking to ensure that policies are informed by data and research.
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Public policy
The etymology of public policy can be traced back to the Latin and Greek root words, policie, politia, and politeia. In the twentieth century, policy was derived from political science, with various disciplines viewing policy in different constructs. Melvin Dubnick and Barbara Bardes defined public policy as the “expressed intentions of government actors relative to a public problem and the activities related to those intentions.” John Bryson and Barbara Crosby defined public policy as “substantive decisions, commitments and actions made by those who hold or affect government positions of authority as they are interpreted by various stakeholders.” James Cibulka viewed public policy as including both official enactments of government and something as informal as practices. Public policy may be viewed as not only what the government does but also what the government does not do.
Overview
All citizens are affected by public policy through their various interactions with government. Public policy affects fundamental elements of government, with ramifications guiding how modern civilization functions in an orderly manner. Policy governs education, health care, employment, finance, transportation, economics, and all other elements of society. Local, state, and national governments enact policy to ensure an orderly society in an attempt to protect citizens from anarchy. Public policy is established to determine such disparate details as compulsory school attendance, public transportation systems, and how many stop signs should be installed in a municipality.
Public policy is enacted by governing boards that determine the nature and composition of services available to the public. National public policy is established through actions involving the federal legislature, such as the US Congress or the UK Parliament, while some countries also have legislatures at state, provincial, or regional levels. Local policy is established and authorized by city councils, mayors, school boards, and/or county governments. Economists also often play a role in the formation of public policy. When governing bodies pass laws, the laws are then enacted into public policy by public administrators with the expressed intention of developing processes designed to ensure that the laws are consistent throughout their implementation and achieve their intended goals to improve citizens’ lives.
The public policy process begins by identifying a concern or problem with the intention of devising a solution. In the early twentieth century, many governments ascertained that it was against the public good to allow children under the age of fourteen to work. As a result, laws were enacted to prohibit child labor. The public policy enacted to protect children governs when and how children are permitted to work and provides regulations to ensure this policy is not violated. Policy issues often involve the definition of an issue, the formulation of the policy itself, formal policy adoption, and finally implementation. After implementation, public administrators evaluate the efficacy of the policy and make adjustments as needed. If policies enacted are viewed as injurious to the public, they are often later repealed. The issues confronted by public policymakers are always evolving, and public policy decisions are made with several determinants in mind, including public opinion, economics, and security. By the twenty-first century, many governments also advocated for and worked to implement evidence-based policymaking.
Bibliography
Bryson, John M., and Barbara C. Crosby. Leadership for the Common Good: Tackling Public Problems in a Shared Power World. Jossey, 1992.
Cibulka, James G. Policy Analysis and the Study of the Politics of Education. Falmer, 1995.
Dubnick, Melvin J., and B. Bardes. Thinking about Public Policy: A Problem-Solving Approach. Wiley, 1983.
Fowler, Frances. C. Policy Studies for Educational Leaders: An Introduction. 4th ed. Pearson, 2014.
Heineman, R. A., et al. The World of the Policy Analyst: Rationality, Values and Politics. 3rd ed. Chatham, 2001.
Hill, Michael. The Public Policy Process. 6th ed. Hoboken: Taylor, 2014.
Hill, Michael J., and Peter L. Hupe. Implementing Public Policy: An Introduction to the Study of Operational Governance. 4th ed. Sage, 2022.
Smith, C. E. Writing Public Policy: A Practical Guide to Communicating in Policy-Making Process. Oxford UP, 2005.
"What Is Public Policy? Definition, Scope, Features, Types & More." O. P. Jindal Global University, 30 Dec. 2023, jgu.edu.in/blog/2023/12/30/what-is-public-policy/. Accessed 31 July 2024.