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Chapter 1 Kraft and Furlong
Public Policy & Politics
24
Political Studies
Undergraduate 2
04/04/2012

Additional Political Studies Flashcards

 


 

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Term
What is Public Policy?
Definition

What public officials within government, and by extension the citizens they represent, choose to do or not to do about public problems.

*public problems refer to conditions the public widely perceives to be unaccetable and therefore requiring intervention.

*affected by social and economic conditions, political values, the public mood @ any given time, the structure of the govn't, and the national and local norms

 

Term
Intentions
Definition
The purposes of government action
Term
Goals
Definition
The stand ends to be achieved
Term
Plans or Proposals
Definition
The means for achieving goals
Term
Programs
Definition
The authorized means for pursing goals
Term
Policy Outputs
Definition
The formal actions that governments take to pursue their goals
Term
Policy Outcomes
Definition
The effects such actions actually have on society
Term
Government
Definition
Institutions and political processes through which public policy choices are made. Represent the legal authority to govern or rule a group of people
Term
Politics
Definition

Exercise of power by elected officials, political parties, and interest groups. Used to refer to the processes through which public polices are formulated and adopted, esp. to the roles played by elected officals, organzied interest groups, and political parties.

*Politics is one of the reasons public policy has so much conflict and is so hard to analyze

Term
Policy Analysis
Definition
Examination of components of public policy, the policy process, or both. The study of the causes and consequences of policy decisions. Encourages deliberate critical thinking about the causes of public problems, the various ways governments and/or the private sector might act on them, and which policy choices make the most sense.
Term

 

 

Contexts of Public Policy

Definition

Social : Societal changes (population increase/decrease)

Economics : State of the economy (surplus vs. deficit)

Political : Political/ideological issues (who is in power?)

Governing : Structure of the gov't (separation of powers)

Cultural Context : Values, beliefs (red vs. blue states)

Term
Political Culture
Definition
Refers to widely held values, beliefs, and attitudes, such as trust and confidence in gov't and the political process, or lack there of. Also includes commitment to individualism, property rights, freedom, pragmatism, or practicality, equality, and similar values, some of which are distinctly American
Term
Procedural vs. Substantive
Definition
equal rules vs equal outcomes
Term
Individualistic vs. Collectivistic
Definition
when individuals succeed, who we give credit to vs. credit to society
Term
2 Kinds of Freedom
Definition

1. Freedom from restraint ( negative )

2. Freedom to do what you want to do when basic needs are met ( positive )

Term
Reasons for government intervention:
Definition

*Political

*Moral/Ethical

*Economic:market failure

Term
Negative Externality
Definition
Occurs when two parties interact in a market and, as a result of that interaction, a third - party is harmed and doesn't get compensation. 
Term
Positive Externality
Definition
Occurs the same way as a negative externality, but the third party gains something from the two-party interaction and doesn't have to pay for it.
Term
Information Failure
Definition
When the information willing buyers/sellers need to enter into a transaction or exchange is not easily available
Term
"Tragedy of the Commons"
Definition

Each individual seeks to maximize his or her use of the common pool resources without regard to their degradation or depletion because no one owns them.

 

Term
Effectiveness
Definition
The likeliness a current or proposed policy/program will achieve its goals/objectives
Term
Effieciency
Definition
What a policy/proposal costs in relation to its expected benefits to society
Term
Equity
Definition
How a program's costs and benefits are distributed among citizens (fairly or not)
Term
Political Feasablity
Definition
Whether elected officials are willing to support a policy proposal
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