Public Policy – A Foundational Glossary of Terms
Term
Agenda Setting Stage (2)
Distributive Public Policy
Policy Adoption Stage (4)
Policy Agenda
Policy Analysis
Policy Evaluation Stage (6)
Policy Factors
Policy Formulation Stage (3)
Policy Implementation Stage
(5)
Policy instruments
Salman Siddiqui
2019/02/14
Definition and Source
A Government body empowered to resolve the problem considers the issue, interest group strength, political
support and the severity of the issue to determine whether the issue reches the political agenda. Source
The provision of benefits to citizens, groups, or corporations. Governments also use distributive policy to
encourage certain activities. Tax abatements and farm subsidies to promote economic development, and tax
write-offs for homeowners to promote the housing industry, are good examples. Distributive policy is also evident
when the government promotes the purchase of [..] savings bonds. Source
This is the most political stage of the policy process. It involves bargaining, compromising, and negotiation. Seldom
does a proposal emerge from the process as originally formulated. Politicians often use policy-negotiating tactics
such as pork barrel politics and logrolling during this stage. Source
The range of issues the political system is addressing. An issue that gets on the Policy Agenda is a candidate for
consideration and research for solution. A Policy Agenda is not a document. It is a to-do list for Public Policy.
Source (See Agenda Setting Stage)
A systematic evaluation of the technical and political implications of alternatives proposed to solve public
problems. Policy analysis refers to both the process of assessing policies or programs, and the product of that
analysis. Source
After an agency puts a program into operation, it must evaluate the policy's success or failure. Evaluation can take
place when an agency assigns staff members to examine how well a program is working. Using social science
methodology, the staff will try to design a valid means of collecting data to find out how well the program is
addressing the original policy issue. Administrators may also hire outside consultants to do evaluations if in-house
personnel are not available. In a less formal way, evaluation also takes place through communication from the
field. Field office workers who apply the program and deal with the agency's clients daily will quickly develop
strong impressions of what works and what does not work. Source
Factors influencing the Policy Process. The Policy process is influenced by many factors including knowledge and
innovation, Social Political and economic context, legal framework, specific events, institutional influence, external
influence, et al. Source
The shaping of specific proposals addressing the problem. Formulating policy in a way that maximizes official and
public support for the measure is important because it helps to ensure its adoption and practice. Source
Putting the policy into action. This is normally the responsibility of an administrative board or agency. Source
Interventions made by government/public authorities in local, national or international economies intended to
achieve outcomes, which conform to the objectives of public policy. Source
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 Public Policy – A Foundational Glossary of Terms

Policy Measure Something you do to implement that policy; e.g., It is the policy of StackExchange to make it easy to ask questions.
A policy measure is to make the reputation threshold for asking questions zero. Source
Policy practitioners make predictions/prescriptions about issues that need to be addressed through policy,
Policy Model
policymakers make a policy choice, the policy is then implemented and has an outcome. Source
Policy Outputs The term "outputs" refers to the actions that the government actually performs (Policy measures). The term
Policy Outcomes "outcomes" refers to the results that are caused by those outputs. Source
Fundamental norms, rules, or values that represent what is desirable and positive for a person, group,
Policy Principle organization, or community, and help it in determining the rightfulness or wrongfulness of its actions. Principles
are more basic than policy and objectives, and are meant to govern both. Source
Social science research which has non-academic groups as its main intended audience (although the results may in
Policy Research practice also interest academic audiences). For the most part such research attempts to apply social scientific
findings to the solution of problems identified by a client. Source
Policy goals and objectives. Policies are a mechanism for controlling the behaviour of an organisation by governing
Policy Space the behaviour of people who work within that organisation. ... In other words the policy exists for a purpose and
this may be often expressed in the form of an "underpinning principle". Source
A written expression which informs the general public of an agency's current approach to, or opinion of, the
requirements of the federal or state constitution, federal or state statute, administrative rule or regulation, or final
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, including, where appropriate, the agency's current practice,
procedure or method of action based upon that approach or opinion.
Policy Statement, Substantive
A substantive policy statement is advisory only. A substantive policy statement does not include internal
procedural documents that only affect the internal procedures of the agency and does not impose additional
requirements or penalties on regulated parties or include confidential information or rules. Source
Policy Termination Stage (7) Government must cancel policies when they become dysfunctional or unnecessary. Source
Policy Theory Plans of action to achieve desirable goals Source
The major challenge for democratic governments is to influence the behavior of citizens effectively. ...
Policy Tools Governments employ a number of tools such as legislation, sanctions, regulations, taxes and subsidies in order to
change behavior in the interest of the public. Source
Problem Recognition Stage (1) Before an issue is considered, policy makers must recognise it as a problem requiring public attention. Source
Public Administrators The Public Policy Makers Source

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Public Policy
Public Policy Process
Redistributive Public Policy
Regulatory Public Policy
Salman Siddiqui
2019/02/14
Public Policy – A Foundational Glossary of Terms
Public policy is a goal-directed course of action, taken by government, to deal with a public problem. Governments
use public policy to solve a social problem (housing, welfare), to counter a threat (crime, illegal drugs), or to
pursue an objective (revenue generation). Public policy, then, is a choice made by official government bodies and
agencies that affect the public interest. Source (Also see Regulatory Policy, Distributive Policy and Redistributive
Policy)
The Public Policy goes through following seven stages in its lifecycle; Problem Recognition, Agenda Setting (Policy
Agenda), Policy Formulation, Policy Adoption, Policy Evaluation, Policy Termination Source
The major purpose of redistributive policy is to promote equality. The government redistributes societal wealth
from one group to another group. This occurs when the government provides benefits directly to citizens through
social programs such as welfare. Progressive taxation, where tax rates increase as your income increases, is
another example of a redistributive policy. Source
A major goal of regulatory policy is to maintain order and prohibit behaviors that endanger society. Government
accomplishes this goal by restricting citizens, groups, or corporations from engaging in those actions that
negatively affect the political and social order. Source
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