6.3 Policy Analysis
What’s the biggest issue in America today? Is it immigration reform, soaring healthcare costs, the student debt crisis, stagnant wages, or the trillion-dollar budget deficit? And what about climate change or the threat of plastic pollution in our oceans? Then there’s gun violence and the debate over gun rights. The list goes on, but there are solutions, and it’s up to the government to implement effective public policies.
Public policy, unlike the precise definition of “public,” can be interpreted in various ways. It’s about how the government addresses the needs and concerns of the people it serves. Table 15. in leading books offer different definitions of public policy.
Table 15. Public policy definitions
|
Definition |
Author |
|---|---|
|
“Public policy is the outcome of the struggle in government over who gets what.” |
Clark Cochran et al. 2010 |
|
“Stated most simply, public policy is the sum of government activities, whether acting directly or through agents, as it has an influence on the life of citizens.” |
B. Guy Peters 2010 |
|
“Whatever governments choose to do or not to do.” |
Thomas Dye 2013 |
|
“A statement by government—at whatever level, in whateverform—of what it intends to do about a public problem.” |
Thomas Birkland 2019 |
|
“A course of action adopted by the government in response topublic problems.” |
Rinfret et al. 2019 |
Original Work. Attribution: K.Martin, inspired by table in Thomas Birkland. 2019. License: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: University of Minnesota Libraries. 2016. Social Problems: Continuity and Change. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing.
While there isn’t a single agreed-upon definition, common themes emerge in the literature regarding public policy. First, public policy is crafted by the government and excludes private business activities. For example, private social networking sites may establish policies barring certain individuals, like suspected terrorists or hate groups, from their platforms. Actions such as those aren’t considered public policy as they originate from private entities. However, there are cases where public and private sector policies intersect. Notably, Apple’s consistent refusal to unlock iPhones for the FBI, owned by terrorist suspects, exemplifies this intersection (Collier and Farivar 2020). Despite ongoing debates between the Department of Justice and the tech industry regarding privacy versus national security, the government pressures Apple to change its stance.
Second, public policy responds to public problems—issues within the government’s purview to address. Despite its power, the government faces unresolved challenges like drug addiction, poverty, and homelessness. An example of successful government intervention is the regulation of shrimping nets to protect sea turtles. The National Marine Fisheries Service mandates the use of turtle excluder devices in shrimp fishing to prevent turtle entrapment, demonstrating public policy tailored to address a specific public problem (NOAA).
If a state governor introduces a program to promote healthy food options in school lunches, it constitutes a public policy initiative. Conversely, when a senator from Georgia expresses opposition to same-sex marriage, it doesn’t qualify as public policy. While the senator is entitled to their opinion, legislative actions like the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) of 1996 and the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) directly address same-sex marriage and are considered public policy. DOMA exemplifies legislative policymaking, highlighting Congress’s authority in creating public policy. In contrast, Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) showcases judicial policymaking, where court rulings play a significant role in shaping or amending existing policies. Although some scholars debate the extent of the courts’ power in making public policy, their decisions often lead to the formulation of new policies or modifications to existing ones. This text will further explore the roles of Congress and the courts in the policy-making process.
APPLYING A SOCIAL ANALYTIC MINDSET
Mayor Platform
Major issues and problems confronting U.S. cities today include those involving fiscal difficulties, crowding, housing, traffic, pollution, public education, and crime. Several of these problems stem directly from the fact that cities involve large numbers of people living in a relatively small amount of space.
If you were to work for a mayor of a large city to help address one specific problem in that city, which problem would you prefer to work on? Why? Discuss three solutions, organizations, or social movements designed to combat the problem of your choice.
“Mayor Platform” by Katie Conklin, West Hills College Lemoore is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Racial Prejudice & Public Policy Preferences
According to researchers studying modern prejudice, if white individuals continue to adhere to racial stereotypes, they are more inclined to oppose government assistance for people of color. For instance, studies show that whites who hold such stereotypes are more likely to resist government programs aimed at aiding African Americans (Quillian 2006). Those who attribute poverty to lack of motivation are more prone to believe that government spending to aid Black people is excessive compared to those who attribute it to discrimination.
Racial prejudice also impacts other public policy preferences. In the realm of criminal justice, white individuals harboring racial stereotypes or animosity towards African Americans tend to exhibit heightened fear of crime. They often perceive courts as lenient, support the death penalty, advocate for increased crime-fighting expenditures, and endorse aggressive police tactics (Barkan and Cohn 2005; Unnever and Cullen 2010).
COLLEGE STUDENTS & THE SOUTHERN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
The opening module of this book features a well-known quote by anthropologist Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” This quote sets the tone for discussing the Southern civil rights movement, highlighting how the actions of dedicated individuals can bring about significant change. It serves as an inspiring reminder that even young people have the power to make a difference.
While African Americans had made attempts to end legal segregation in the 1950s, the civil rights movement is commonly credited with beginning on February 1, 1960. On this significant day, four African American students from the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina peacefully sat at a segregated lunch counter in a Greensboro Woolworth’s store, requesting service. Despite being denied, they remained until closing and returned the next day, joined by others. The sit-in protests rapidly spread, prompting similar demonstrations across North Carolina and beyond. By late July 1960, Woolworth’s desegregated its lunch counters nationwide. This series of events, initiated by college students, marked the official start of the civil rights movement.
During the peak years of the civil rights movement, college students from both the South and North united with thousands in sit-ins, marches, and various efforts to dismantle legal segregation. Many faced arrest, and tragically, at least forty-one lost their lives. Their courageous actions, risking freedom and even their lives, had a profound impact on millions of African Americans. This movement traces back to a pivotal moment in Greensboro, where a small group of college students peacefully sat at a lunch counter, sparking a powerful wave of change.
Branch, Taylor. 1988. Parting the Waters: America in the King Years, 1954–1963. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.
Southern Poverty Law Center. 2011. “41 Lives for Freedom.” Retrieved from (http://www.crmvet.org/mem/41lives.htm).
If racial prejudice impacts views on various issues, it poses a concern for democratic societies like the United States. In a democracy, it’s normal for people to disagree on topics such as criminal justice, including differing views on the death penalty. However, should racial prejudice be a factor in these disagreements? If elected officials respond to public opinion, as they should in a democracy, and if racial prejudice influences public opinion, then it may affect government policies on criminal justice and other matters. In a democratic society, allowing racial prejudice to influence policy decisions is unacceptable.
