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

by: Gerston,Larry N.

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

by: Gerston,Larry N.

ISBN 13:
9780765610553
ISBN 10:
0765610558
Edition: 1st
Format: Nonspecific Binding
Copyright: 08/31/2002
Publisher: Routledge
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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.

Foreword

xiii

Preface

Acknowledgments

xxi

The Public Policymaking Process and How It Relates to Our Lives

(28)

The Public Policymaking Framework

(1)

What Public Policy Is---And Is Not

(2)

Defining Public Issues

(1)

Defining Private Issues

(1)

Public/Private Issues in Perspective

(1)

Constitutionalism: The Architecture of Public Policymaking

(7)

Separation of Power

(1)

Federalism

(1)

Judicial Review

(1)

Chartered Rights

(2)

Where Public Policies Are Made---Vertical Relationships

(4)

Public Policymaking at the National Level

(1)

Public Policymaking at the State Level

(2)

Public Policymaking at the Local Level

(1)

Does Citizenship Matter?

(1)

What Does Citizenship Mean?

(3)

The Rights-Bearing Model of Citizenship

(1)

The Citizen as Community Loyalist

(1)

Citizenship as Public Work

(1)

Practicing Citizenship Through Public Policy Analysis and Advocacy

(2)

Putting It Together

(1)

Case Study: Welfare Reform

(2)

Reflection

(1)

Student Projects

(1)

Discussion Questions

(1)

Notes

(4)

Identifying Public Policy Issues

(27)

Triggering Mechanisms---Indicators for Determining Issues

(8)

Scope: How Widespread a Problem

(1)

Intensity: How Troublesome a Problem

(1)

Duration: How Long a Problem

(1)

Resources: Costliness of the Problem

(3)

But What If My Issue Is Kept Off the Public Agenda?

(1)

Deciding What Is Important---How and Why

(1)

Doing Research

(8)

Library Work---Doing It the Old Fashioned Way

(1)

Going ``Online''

(1)

Newspaper Tracking

(1)

Government and Community Organizations

(2)

Personal Interviews

(1)

Polls and Public Opinion Surveys

(2)

Considering What to Do

(4)

Knowing Where to Go, Whom to See, and How to Get There

(1)

Determining What Should Be Done

(1)

The Consequences of Inaction

(1)

Case Study: Community Development Project

(1)

Reflection

(1)

Student Projects

(1)

Discussion Questions

(1)

Notes

(3)

Developing a Public Policy Proposal: Inventing the Better Lightbulb

(21)

Connecting Issues with Public Policymakers

(7)

Learning What Can Be Done by Whom

(2)

Starting at the Bottom of the Ladder

(4)

Clarifying Objectives

(3)

Other Students

(1)

Class Instructor

(1)

Family, Friends, and Acquaintances

(1)

Outside Parties

(1)

Inventing the Better Lightbulb

(3)

Asking the Tough Questions

(1)

Tobacco Regulation as an Example

(1)

A Checklist for Policy Analysis

(1)

Doing a Reality Check

(2)

Scheduled Meeting with Your Instructor

(1)

Seeking an Expert in the Field

(1)

Working with Your Peers

(1)

To Influence or Not to Influence---That Is the Question

(1)

Case Study: Campus Security

(1)

Reflection

(1)

Student Projects

(1)

Discussion Questions

(1)

Notes

(2)

Taking Action in the Political World: How to Advocate a Public Policy

(30)

Surveying the Policymaking Landscape

(15)

Public Officials

(7)

Mass Media

(1)

The World Wide Web

(1)

Interest Groups

(3)

Political Parties

(1)

Bureaucracy

(1)

Citizens as Individuals and in Small Groups

(3)

Agenda Building in Perspective

(1)

Preparing a Plan of Action---Carefully, and One Step at a Time

(4)

Whether to Act Alone or in Concert with Others

(1)

Determining Your Level of Involvement

(1)

Preparing a List and Order of Activities

(1)

Making the Most of Your Opportunity

(3)

Timing

(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

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

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

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

9780765610553

0765610558

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Write a Review

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

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

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

9780765610553

0765610558

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Write a Review

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