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The Policy Making Process: Setting the Agenda. AP Government and Politics Chapter 15 Homework: Assignment 2. Something to think about…. Someone once said...“the media doesn’t tell us what to think, but they tell us what to think about .”
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The Policy Making Process: Setting the Agenda AP Government and Politics Chapter 15 Homework: Assignment 2
Something to think about… • Someone once said...“the media doesn’t tell us what to think, but they tell us what to think about.” • To what extent is this true for American political discourse? • What other forces might help shape both what we think about, and perhaps what we think?
Policymaking and Setting the Agenda • The most important factor affecting policymaking is what goes on the political agenda. • At any given time, there exist beliefs about the legitimate scope of what government can do. Over the last seventy years, what has been considered legitimate government activity has vastly increased. Politics is now about nearly everything. • There have been several reasons for this increase. • Whatever government now does is generally accepted as legitimate; programs, once enacted, do not have to overcome the presumption that an issue is “none of their business”.. • Events, such as war, depression, or a coal mine disaster, seem to require that government “do something” about a problem now • Oftentimes, interest groups promote activities of government absent of any real public outcry about a problem or when it might be resolving itself on its own. • Several institutions also play an important role in the agenda-setting process • The courts may force the hands of other political institutions with their decisions • The bureaucracy now often devises and advocates new government initiatives • The Senate has become an incubator for new policies and an instrument for building national consensus for (mostly liberal) national causes • Finally, the press determines what issues to publicize and what issues to ignore
The Political Agenda • Peters Township School District • Who are the stakeholders? • Who do you think wields the most influence over the actions of the board and/or the superintendent? • Who is more powerful: the Board or the Superintendent? • Are there other, more “independent” actors that may choose to take actions or advocate policies on their own? • What items do you believe are currently on the PTSD School Board “agenda”? • Are there any that you believe are opposed by a majority of community members? • What would explain their existence?
