19 September 

Public Policy

Models in Public Policy and Federalism - Interrelationships & Tensions

Administrative Items for Class

• Oral Presentation Today

• Announcements?

• What is "New & Groovy in Public Policy?"

PUBLIC POLICY 

• Definitions?

• Contexts?

• Why analyze policy?

• Ways to organize policy analysis - models?

WHY UNDERSTAND PUBLIC POLICY MODELS?

• Advocacy

• Analysis

• Explain

• Evaluate

• Patterns?! >>>:-)

• Others________________?

MODELS OF PUBLIC POLICY

1. Systems Theory - Easton

2. Normative &/or Empirical

3. Institutionalism

4. Process

5. Rationalism - 'The Rational Actor"

6. Incrementalism

7. Group Theory

8. Elite Theory

9. Public Choice Theory

10. Game Theory

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O’Gorman –  Exercise Sheet on Models of Politics   

USING TEXTUAL EVIDENCE TO FIND MODELS OF POLICY ANALYSIS

Please answer the questions below, keeping in mind the models of politics discussed in class, and in the Dye book (Chapter Two). 

1.     (From CNN.com Monday 15 September 2003): 

“A federal appeals court today blocked the October 7 California recall election, but stayed its order for seven days to allow an appeal. The ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals follows a hearing last week in which the American Civil Liberties Union sought a postponement of the vote. The ACLU argued that election officials should have more time to replace antiquated voting machines in several California counties."

Can you see textual evidence of TWO models of politics in the quote above?  Please write down which models you see, based on the evidence, and explain which words you see that suggest the models you chose. 

2.     (From CNN.com  15 September 2003): 

    Rich-poor divide derails WTO talks

        Potentially significant farm subsidy issue not debated

CANCUN, Mexico --The collapse of talks designed to change the face of global trade has set back the trade development agenda by at least two years, according to a key minister taking part in the meeting.    Singapore's Trade and Industry Minister George Yeo confirmed to CNN that the World Trade Organization {WTO} talks had collapsed on Sunday and said the setback had "serious implications" for world trade. Yeo was chairman of the crucial farm trade talks in Mexico. Delegates said the failure of the talks -- the second such failure for the WTO in four years -- highlighted the sharp differences between rich and poor nations over issues such as agriculture and global investment rules. Yeo said the inability of the talks to reach a midpoint meant that the WTO's Doha development agenda -- set out at the November 2001 WTO ministerial meeting in Qatar -- would be delayed by at least two years and probably longer. Yeo said confidence in the multilateral negotiating process had taken a beating and some countries now would make their own "selfish arrangements" such as bilateral trade deals.” 

Can you see textual evidence of THREE models of politics in the quote above?  Please write down which models you see, based on the evidence, and explain which words you see that suggest the models you chose. 

3.     (From the New York Times, 9/13/00): 

“President Clinton vetoed two Republican congressional tax-cutting bills in August as too expensive and two skewed toward the wealthy….some tax relief to small businesses may occur in the FY 2001 Budget negotiations.” 

Can you see textual evidence of THREE models of politics in the quote above?  Please write down which models you see, based on the evidence, and explain which words you see that suggest the models you chose. 

4.     "Powell Cautious on Iraq Timetable   By STEVEN R. WEISMAN  New York Times 15 Sept 2003