14 Jan PA582 Public Policy Formulation

PA582 Public Policy Formulation and Implementation

Week 1 Discussion

DQ1 VIEWPOINTS

Discuss if you think policy makers truly represent the citizenry or are they pressured by third party special interest groups that support their campaigns. Should they represent both?

DQ2 APPROACHES TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

The approaches to public administration can be categorized in various ways. One method is to refer to the approaches as “Managerial, Political, or Legal.” Please choose one of these approaches, and explain the basics.

PA582 Public Policy Formulation and Implementation

Week 2 Discussion

DQ1 POLICY PROCESS

What is meant by the term policy process? Who may be viewed as stakeholders on a federal public policy issue? To what extent do you feel that the stakeholders should have a say in the process of setting the policy?

DQ2 CITIZENS’ INPUT

Have you ever attended a meeting of a local government? Could you please share your experiences? If not, could you please check the website of a local government in your area and relate the procedures for attending or speaking?

PA582 Public Policy Formulation and Implementation

Week 3 Discussion

DQ1 COMPARING BUDGETS

How do you think a government budget is similar to your household budget? How do you think it is different?

DQ2 REVENUE SOURCES

What are some of the taxes that you pay on a more or less daily basis? Income taxes, sales taxes, other? Can you tell which level of government the money is going to?

PA582 Public Policy Formulation and Implementation

Week 4 Discussion

DQ1 GOALS OF PUBLIC POLICY

Efficiency, equity, and stabilization should be considered as objectives in the development of public policy at any level of government. Please choose an example of a recent public policy, whether in your city or state or nationally, and explain how that policy helped to meet one of these goals.

DQ2 DECISION MAKING

Three models of decision making were addressed in this week’s readings. Let’s address each of the three starting with the rational-comprehensive model. Please describe that model. Which approach to public administration does it seem best suited to? Do you like and use this model?

PA582 Public Policy Formulation and Implementation

Week 5 Discussion

DQ1 IMPLEMENTATION

What is meant by implementation? Assume in this regard that a new policy has been passed by the legislature in your state. In general terms, what are some of the steps for implementation?

DQ2EVALUATION

What are some of the problems in trying to evaluate the effectiveness of policy outputs and policy implementation?

PA582 Public Policy Formulation and Implementation

Week 6 Discussion

DQ1 SUNSET PROVISIONS

In general, what is meant by a sunset provision? What is an example of such a provision in federal legislation? How does a sunset provision impact public policy?

DQ2 CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT

What is meant by an initiative (or ballot measure)? Is this technique allowed in every state? If it is allowed, how can it be used by citizens if there is a feeling that the elected officials are ignoring or circumventing a public policy?

PA582 Public Policy Formulation and Implementation

Week 7 Discussion

DQ1 PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

In general, what is meant by the term public-private partnership? Do you have an example from your own community?

DQ2 THE FUTURE

From your studies this session, and especially from your work on the Course Project, what do you feel is a major public policy issue facing the United States in the coming years?