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Policy Formulation

Public policy formulation is a dynamic process involving multiple actors and stages, primarily responding to societal demands. The process consists of four stages: identifying public problems, placing them on the policy agenda, formulating proposals, and making policy decisions. Key factors influencing this process include political leadership, protest activities, and media influence, with the final authority resting with government officials who legitimize the adopted policies.

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11 views

Policy Formulation

Public policy formulation is a dynamic process involving multiple actors and stages, primarily responding to societal demands. The process consists of four stages: identifying public problems, placing them on the policy agenda, formulating proposals, and making policy decisions. Key factors influencing this process include political leadership, protest activities, and media influence, with the final authority resting with government officials who legitimize the adopted policies.

Uploaded by

Kate.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PUBLIC POLICY FORMULATION

• Public Policy Formulation – A dynamic process- Number of


Actors, Events, Conditions, Political Institution, etc. are
involved in this process.
• Public Policy- A response to the demands put forth by the
people.
• James E. Anderson- Four stages in policy formulation process-
1. Identifying Public Problems,
2. Putting Public Problems on Policy Agenda,
3. The formulation of Policy Proposals to deal with the problem,
4. Making Policy Decisions.

Stage One- Identifying Public Problems-


• The Basic root of Public Policy is the issues that trouble the
section or sections of the society where actions are required.

• Identification of ‘Public Problem’ is the starting point of Public


Policy Questions.

• Everyone has problems but Public Policy Problems falls into


unique category-

A Public Problem is when individuals or groups who suffer


depend on the government action to change their unfavourable
condition into favourable and acceptable situation.
A Public Problem is pervasive- is a public issue- troubling large
number of people- and is not a personal difficulty

• Larry Gerston- Four triggering factors playing vital role in


identifying the emerging issues or problems for Public Policy.
They are- scope, intensity, time and resources.
Stage Two- Putting Public Problems on Policy Agenda-
• Thousands of demands are made but government cannot accept
them all- Only small portion receive a serious attention of the
government.
• Those demands that Public Policy Makers choose or feel
important to act upon become the part of Policy Agenda.
• David Truman- Book ‘The Government Process’ (1952) –
Groups try to maintain themselves in the state of reasonable
equilibrium. If something disturbs it, they react accordingly.
• Factors influencing Agenda Setting-
1. Political Leadership- Motivations of political advantages,
concern for the Public Interest etc. may grab the attention of
the leader and leader may bring that particular issue into
light.
2. Protests Activity- Is another means by which problems are
brought to the attention of the Policy Makers.
3. Media- News reports are spreading the awareness. Media is
transforming private question to public issue. It expands the
audience and can change the dynamics of Public Policy
Making Process.

Stage Three- Formulation of Policy Proposal-


• Policy formation process involves the development of
acceptable proposed course of action to deal with Public
Problems.
• Government is the major Actor in initiating such development
of policy proposals.
• Many policy proposals are developed by the Public
Bureaucracy. Then these proposals are examined by Special
Study Groups and Advisory Commissions. All these agencies
combined together develop policy proposals.
• Actors playing important role in formation of policy proposals-
1. Legislature place most important role in policy formation-
legislative hearings and investigations decides policy
proposals.
2. Administrative officials based on their own interest and
activities as well as the interest of the representatives suggest
the actions on the problems and accordingly legislature
formulate the proposed course of action.
3. Interest Groups- They presents specific proposals for
legislation. After series of negotiations a compromised course
of action based on such proposals are accepted.
• In this way both public officials and private actors contribute to
formulate policy proposals.

Stage Four (final stage)- Policy formulation-


• This stage involves policy decision process- formulation is
directed towards approving the final policy alternative out the
several alternatives available.
• A policy decision involves action by the official person to
modify and approve a preferred alternative and reject the other
alternatives.
• A policy decision is either in the form of legislation (law) or in
the form of executive order.
• Even if many non-official (non-governmental) actors contribute
to policy formulation the formal authority is with government-
legislators, executives, administrators and judges. In democracy
usually it is legislature representing the interest of the people.
• Such policy decisions taken by the legislature are legitimate and
hence binding on all.
• Policy formulation procedure is completed only after the
appropriate authority has adopted the policy.

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