7.02 TGA - Policy Evaluation

7.02 TGA - Policy Evaluation – 30 Points Please type your responses on this document and save it as a word document or PDF. (6 points) What are the basic steps in policymaking? Answer: Problem Identification Agenda Setting Policy Formulation Policy Adoption Policy Implementation Policy Implementation (4 points) Who makes governmental policy? Name several institutions and officials. Answer: Government policy is created by a mix of institutions and officials. Legislatures, like Congress and Parliament, pass laws, while executives, such as presidents or prime ministers, propose and enforce policies. Courts, including supreme courts, interpret laws and shape policy through rulings. Government agencies deal with the details of implementing policies, and local governments deal with regional issues. (6 points) How large a role do you think public opinion plays in shaping governmental policies in the United States today? Explain your answer. Answer: Public opinion plays a big part but not always the decisive role in shaping U.S. government policies. Politicians often listen to voters, especially during elections, because they want to stay in power. Issues like healthcare, gun control, or climate change gain attention when the public pushes for change. However, money, lobbyists, and partisan politics can sometimes have the upperhand and override on what most Americans want. Yes, the public opinion does matter but it’s not the only factor, it's just one piece of the system. (8 points) What is the relationship between the powers of government and the policies that governments create? Answer: The powers of government determine what policies it can actually create and enforce. For example, state governments handle things like education or traffic laws because they have reserved powers. If a government doesn’t have the authority to do something, like a city trying to negotiate with another country, it can’t make policies about it. Basically, what a government can do directly shapes what it does through policies. (6 points) Policy is discussed by the realm, or broad subject matter around which policy centers. Think about economic policy, social policy, and foreign policy. Which of these realms is most important for the national government? Explain why this realm is more important than the other two. Provide evidence to support your explanation. Answer: Of the three policy realms economic, social, and foreign, economic policy is the most important for the national government. A strong economy affects everything like the jobs, taxes, and funding for programs like healthcare. During the 2008 financial crisis, the federal government stepped in with bailouts and stimulus packages to prevent total collapse, that is something states or individuals couldn’t do alone. While social policy and foreign policy matter and are important in daily life, economic stability is a big part that lets the government address other issues.