Public Policymaking in a Democratic Society: A Guide to Civic Engagement

by Gerston,Larry N.

• ISBN13: 9780765610553
• ISBN10: 0765610558
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2002-08-31
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This book provides a "macro" overview of public policymaking in all its aspects, as well as the "micro" level knowledge that enables ordinary citizens, both individually and collectively, to become involved in public policymaking. It combines a bird's eye view of political institutions, processes, and relationships with a "how-to" approach to civic engagement.

Each chapter includes a policy case study, a study project, and discussion questions. The book has a broad application for any organized effort to foster community service and civic responsibilty. It will be equally useful as a service-learning supplement for courses in public policy and American or local government, for fieldwork courses and internships, and for teacher training.

Table of Contents

Foreword	xiii
Preface	xv
Acknowledgments	xxi
The Public Policymaking Process and How It Relates to Our Lives	3	(28)
The Public Policymaking Framework	4	(1)
What Public Policy Is---And Is Not	5	(2)
Defining Public Issues	5	(1)
Defining Private Issues	6	(1)
Public/Private Issues in Perspective	7	(1)
Constitutionalism: The Architecture of Public Policymaking	7	(7)
Separation of Power	9	(1)
Federalism	10	(1)
Judicial Review	11	(1)
Chartered Rights	12	(2)
Where Public Policies Are Made---Vertical Relationships	14	(4)
Public Policymaking at the National Level	14	(1)
Public Policymaking at the State Level	15	(2)
Public Policymaking at the Local Level	17	(1)
Does Citizenship Matter?	18	(1)
What Does Citizenship Mean?	19	(3)
The Rights-Bearing Model of Citizenship	19	(1)
The Citizen as Community Loyalist	20	(1)
Citizenship as Public Work	21	(1)
Practicing Citizenship Through Public Policy Analysis and Advocacy	22	(2)
Putting It Together	23	(1)
Case Study: Welfare Reform	24	(2)
Reflection	26	(1)
Student Projects	26	(1)
Discussion Questions	27	(1)
Notes	27	(4)
Identifying Public Policy Issues	31	(27)
Triggering Mechanisms---Indicators for Determining Issues	32	(8)
Scope: How Widespread a Problem	33	(1)
Intensity: How Troublesome a Problem	34	(1)
Duration: How Long a Problem	35	(1)
Resources: Costliness of the Problem	36	(3)
But What If My Issue Is Kept Off the Public Agenda?	39	(1)
Deciding What Is Important---How and Why	40	(1)
Doing Research	41	(8)
Library Work---Doing It the Old Fashioned Way	42	(1)
Going ``Online''	43	(1)
Newspaper Tracking	43	(1)
Government and Community Organizations	44	(2)
Personal Interviews	46	(1)
Polls and Public Opinion Surveys	47	(2)
Considering What to Do	49	(4)
Knowing Where to Go, Whom to See, and How to Get There	50	(1)
Determining What Should Be Done	51	(1)
The Consequences of Inaction	52	(1)
Case Study: Community Development Project	53	(1)
Reflection	54	(1)
Student Projects	55	(1)
Discussion Questions	55	(1)
Notes	55	(3)
Developing a Public Policy Proposal: Inventing the Better Lightbulb	58	(21)
Connecting Issues with Public Policymakers	59	(7)
Learning What Can Be Done by Whom	60	(2)
Starting at the Bottom of the Ladder	62	(4)
Clarifying Objectives	66	(3)
Other Students	66	(1)
Class Instructor	67	(1)
Family, Friends, and Acquaintances	68	(1)
Outside Parties	68	(1)
Inventing the Better Lightbulb	69	(3)
Asking the Tough Questions	69	(1)
Tobacco Regulation as an Example	70	(1)
A Checklist for Policy Analysis	71	(1)
Doing a Reality Check	72	(2)
Scheduled Meeting with Your Instructor	72	(1)
Seeking an Expert in the Field	73	(1)
Working with Your Peers	73	(1)
To Influence or Not to Influence---That Is the Question	74	(1)
Case Study: Campus Security	74	(1)
Reflection	75	(1)
Student Projects	76	(1)
Discussion Questions	76	(1)
Notes	77	(2)
Taking Action in the Political World: How to Advocate a Public Policy	79	(30)
Surveying the Policymaking Landscape	80	(15)
Public Officials	80	(7)
Mass Media	87	(1)
The World Wide Web	88	(1)
Interest Groups	88	(3)
Political Parties	91	(1)
Bureaucracy	91	(1)
Citizens as Individuals and in Small Groups	92	(3)
Agenda Building in Perspective	95	(1)
Preparing a Plan of Action---Carefully, and One Step at a Time	95	(4)
Whether to Act Alone or in Concert with Others	96	(1)
Determining Your Level of Involvement	97	(1)
Preparing a List and Order of Activities	98	(1)
Making the Most of Your Opportunity	99	(3)
Timing	99	(1)
Advance Warning	100	(1)
Supplies	100	(1)
Transportation	101	(1)
Publicity	101	(1)
Follow-up	102	(1)
Public Policymaking as Complex Activities	102	(1)
Case Study: Campaigning for a Watershed Tax District	103	(2)
Reflection	105	(1)
Student Projects	105	(1)
Discussion Questions	105	(1)
Notes	106	(3)
Implementation: Carrying Out Decisions and Making Them Stick	109	(22)
The Art of Implementation	111	(1)
Bureaucracies---Implementation Agents	112	(10)
Requirements for Implementation	113	(3)
Conditions for Discouraging Implementation	116	(3)
Bureaucrats as Public Policymakers	119	(2)
But What About...?	121	(1)
Keeping Your Hand in the Implementation Mix	122	(4)
Determining Whether the Policy Is Clear	123	(1)
Comparing Intentions with Outcomes	124	(2)
Case Study: Implementing a New Policy on Racial Profiling	126	(1)
Reflection	127	(1)
Student Projects	128	(1)
Discussion Questions	128	(1)
Notes	129	(2)
Evaluation: Does the Policy Make Sense?	131	(22)
Who Evaluates, and Why?	133	(4)
Evaluation in the Public Policymaking Environment	133	(1)
Evaluators	134	(1)
Evaluation as a Tool of Civic Engagement	135	(2)
Evaluation: Not as Easy as It Looks	137	(1)
Comparing Outcomes with Intentions	138	(7)
Quantitative Measurement	138	(3)
Qualitative Judgment	141	(4)
One Form of Evaluation Every Policymaker Wishes to Avoid	145	(1)
Some Final Tips	146	(1)
Conclusions	146	(1)
Case Study: Charter Schools	147	(2)
Reflection	149	(1)
Student Projects	150	(1)
Discussion Questions	150	(1)
Notes	150	(3)
Participation, Politics, and Policymaking: Putting It Together	153	(12)
Some of What You May Have Learned	153	(2)
The Most Important Evaluation of All	155	(3)
Questions About Yourself	156	(1)
Questions About You as a Citizen	156	(1)
Questions About You and the Community	157	(1)
And Some Last Questions	158	(1)
Some Final Thoughts (from the Soapbox)	158	(5)
Handling Disappointment and Frustration	158	(2)
Skepticism, Yes; Cynicism, No	160	(1)
Why Civil Obligation?	161	(2)
Notes	163	(2)
Appendix A: Glossary	165	(6)
Appendix B: Recommended Government Documents	171	(2)
Appendix C: Recommended Readings	173	(6)
Appendix D: Recommended Web Sites as Research Source Materials	179	(10)
Index	189