Answer:
2. agenda setting
Explanation:
Agenda Setting
In this first stage, a problem or challenge that impacts the public is initially identified. Solutions are put forward by interested parties both inside and outside of the government. Agenda setting typically goes through these stages:
Systemic agenda. All issues public officials feel are worth addressing
Institutional agenda. Distilled from the systemic agenda list, these issues are chosen as the ones policymakers should analyze and consider acting on.
Discretionary agenda. This list comes directly from lawmakers, not from the systemic and institutional agendas.
Decision agenda. The final list of issues that policymakers will consider for action.
Policy Formation
This step involves the development of policy options within the government. This occurs after officials narrow the range of possible policy choices by excluding infeasible options. In this step, different interested parties attempt to have their favored policy solution rank high among the remaining options. This step often involves a period of intense debate.
Decision Making
In this step, government leaders decide on a particular course of action. Ideally, it is the course that will best address the problem for the most members of the public.
Policy Implementation
In this step of the policy making process, governments put the chosen public policy option into effect. Officials use the tools of public administration that impact the distribution of government goods and services or make changes in how the government taxes the public. The changes should reflect the sentiments and values of the affected parties.
Policy Evaluation
Interested parties both within and without the government monitor the impact of the policy and determine if it is achieving the intended goal. This can lead to further changes in public policy done in light of the impact of the original policy.
In reality, the policy making process is not typically so linear. However, these five steps provide a framework to better understand public policy formation and help students identify the strengths and weaknesses of the system.
