View the policy process as a series of polirical

view the policy
process
as
a series of
polirical activities-prob-
lem identification,
agenda
setting, formulation, legitimation,
implementation,
and
evaluation.
The
process model
is
useful
in
helping
us
ro understand
the various
acriviries involved
in
policymaking.
We wanr ro
keep
in mind that
policymaking
involves
agenda
setting (cap-
turing
the
attention
of policymakers),
formulating
proposals
(devising
and selecting
policy
options),
legitimating policy
(developing political
supporr; winning
congressional, presi-
dential, or court
approval), implementing
policy (crearing
bureaucracies, spending money,
enforcing
laws), and
evaluat-
ing policy (frnding
out whether policies work, whether
they
are
popular).
Policy
as
Institutiona[
Output
17
Processes: Apptyrng the
Modet
Potitical processes
and behaviors
are
considered
in
ach of the po[icy
areas
studied in
thi
book. Additionai
com-
mentary on the impact of potiticat
activity
on pubtic
potiry
is
found in
Chapter
3,
'The
Poticymaking process:
Decision-Making Activities,"
and
Chapter
4, "Policy
Evaluation:
Finding
Out What
Happens
After
a
Law Is
Passed."
Institutionatism:
Apptying
the
Model
In
Chapter
5,
"Federatism and State
Poticies:
InstitutionaI
Anangements
and Poliry Variations,"
we shatl
examine some
of the
problems
of
American
federatism-the
distribution of
money and power
among federal, state, and
[oca[
governments.
INSTITUTIONALISM:
POLICY AS INSTITUTIONAL
OUTPUT
Govemment institutions
have long been
a
central
focus of
politicalscience.
Tiaditionally, polirical
science
was
defined
as
the
study of
govemment institurions. Polirical
activities generally center
around
particular govemment institutions-Congress,
the presidency,
courLs, bureaucracies,
states,
municipalities,
and
so
on. Public
policy
is
authoritatively
determined, implemenred, and
enforced
by these
institutions.
The relationship
between
public policy
and
govemmenr
institutions
is
very
close.
Strictly
speaking,
a
policy
does
not
become
apublic
policy until it
is
adopted, implemented,
and enforced
by
some
govemment
institution.
Government institutions give publicpolicy
three
distinctive
characteristics. First,
govemment
lends legtfuucy
to
policies. Govemment
policies
are
generally
regarded
as
legal
obligations that
command the loyalty of
citizens. People may regard
thi
policies
of other
groups and associations in
society---<orporations, churches, professional
organizations,
civic
associations, and
so
forth-as
important
and even
binding.
But only govemment
policies
involve
legal obligations.
Second,
govemment policies involve
rmiversality.
Only
govemment
poli.
cies
extend to all
people
in
a
society;
the policies of other
groups
or organizations reach only
.
part of the
society. Finally, government monopolizes
coercion
in society-only
govemment
can
legitimately
imprison violarors of its policies. The
sanctions
that
can be imposedby other goups
or
organizations
in
society are
more limited.