Public Policy

By: Alice LiaoEden WangJohn WongStephen Ngan

How a bill becomes a Law

1. IntroductionBill is introduced by a member and

assigned to a committee, which is usually refers it to a subcommittee

2. Committees Subcommittee- Studies, hold hearings and makes

revisions; if approved, it goes to full committee Committee- Full committee may amend or rewrite

the bill, before sending to House/Senate for approval; if approved, the bill is reported to full Senate or House

Leadership-Senate leaders of both parties schedule Senate debate on the bill. Rules Committee issues a debate on the house floor and sends the bill to the full house.

3. Floor ActionBill is debated by full House/Senate,

amendments are offered, and a vote is taken.

If the bill passes in a different version from that passed in the House/Senate it is sent to a conference committee

4. Conference Committee Composed of members of both House and Senate Differences in the bills are solved Results in a compromise bill, and is returned to

both House and Senate for a vote

5. Presidential Decision

President may sign or veto the billCongress may override a veto by a

two-thirds vote in both house and senate

Formation of Policy Formation Agenda

Because of Limited time and resources, policy makers have to choose which problems to act on

Effected by:◦Protest Activity◦Media Attention◦Electoral Benefit- majority support in

polls◦Historical Achievement

Role of Institutions in the Enactment of Policy

Formulation of policy proposals◦Their initiation and development◦By policy planning organizations,

interest groups, the executive or legislative branches of government

Policy Implementation

The Court

The court will interpret the new policy to determine if it is constitutional or not.◦If it is constitutional the policy will be

passed to a bureaucracy.◦If it is unconstitutional the policy will

be rejected and a new policy will have to be created.

Bureaucracy

A bureaucracy would be appointed to implement the know policy.◦It is also their responsibility to

oversee the new policy so that it is followed.

◦They have the ability to fill in holes in the policy that the Judicial and Legislative branch fail to address.

Linkage Between Public Policies

Political Institutions and Federalism

President and Congress have to work together to pass turn a bill into a law.

The bill can only become a law through a certain process:◦Bill introduction -> Committee action ->

Floor action -> Conference action -> Presidential decision

Political Parties Members of political parties tend to

follow their party’s stance on issues Some voters are loyal to the party they

support and will cast their vote for candidates based on which political party the candidates are in.

Political parties have to compete with each other to gain voter support, so they try to create legislations that please voters.

Lobbyists and Interest GroupsLobbyists represent interests of their

organizationLobbyists provide information and financial

aid to legislatorsLobbyists encourages citizens to pressure

legislators on certain issues

Public Opinions Public opinions influence how political

leaders make their polities. Political leaders try to take the same

stance as the majority of the voters to try and win votes.

Elections

Congressmen uses casework and adding pork barrel to legislations to win votes

Political leaders take positions on certain issues to try and win votes

Political leaders try to win the favor of organizations and individuals for campaign funds.

Policy NetworksPresidents try to control bureaucracy by:

◦Appointing the head of agencies◦ Issue executive orders to agencies◦Changing an agency’s budget

Congress try to control bureaucracy by:◦ Influencing the presidents’ appointments of the

head of agencies ◦Changing an agency’s budget◦Holding hearings◦Rewriting legislations

Bureaucracy, congressional subcommittees, and interest groups from iron triangles◦They all influence policy making

Iron Triangle

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