Public policy

Public policy is the study of policy making by governments. A government's public policy is the set of policies (laws, plans, actions, behaviors) that it chooses. Since governments claim authority and responsibility (to varying degrees) over a large group of individuals, they see fit to establish plans and methods of action that will govern that society.

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According to Thomas A. Birkland's book An Introduction to the Policy Process, there is a "lack of a consensus definition of public policy. Thomas Dye argues that this search for a definition of public policy can degenerate into a word game." (p. 19) Table 1.3 in Birkland's book outlines a few definitions of public policy (p. 21):

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• Clarke E. Cochran, et al.: "The term public policy always refers to the actions of government and the intentions that determine those actions."
• Clarke E. Cochran, et al.: "Public policy is the outcome of the struggle in government over who gets what."
• Thomas Dye: Public policy is "Whatever governments choose to do or not do."
• Charles L. Cochran and Eloise F. Malone: "Public policy consists of political decisions for implementing programs to achieve societal goals."
• B. Guy Peters: "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."

Birkland offers these common traits of all definitions of public policy (p. 20):

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• The policy is made in the "public's" name.
• Policy is generally made or initiated by government.
• Policy is interpreted and implemented by public and private actors.
• Policy is what the government intends to do.
• Policy is what the government chooses not to do.

According to the Encarta definition of political science http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761569743_2/Political_Science.html#p12:

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:The field of public policy involves the study of specific policy problems and governmental responses to them. Political scientists involved in the study of public policy attempt to devise solutions for problems of public concern.

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According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=policy, policy is defined as:

Related Topics:
Merriam-Webster - Policy

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:2a : definite course or method of action selected from among alternatives and in light of given conditions to guide and determine present and future decisions. 2b : a high-level overall plan embracing the general goals and acceptable procedures especially of a governmental body.

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Public policy: Context / related academic fields ►