INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC POLICY

Department of Politics and International Relations

POLITICS 2A (POL2A and PIR2A)
Policy brief check-list and guidelines
Instructions:
Each student is expected to write a Policy Brief of between 3 and 4 pages. The Policy
Brief should be addressed to either a Ward Committee (in the ward where you live)
identifying a major problem in the ward that requires a public policy response. The
Policy Brief should propose a public policy solution to the problem, and most
importantly, explain the stages of the policy making process that will have to be
followed in order for the proposed solution to become official government policy. It is
up to each student to choose a social/public problem about which s/he chooses to
write a Policy Brief. It could be housing, crime, schooling or any issue. What is
important is to describe the problem in the Policy Brief and explain to the Ward
Committee the stages of policy making that will have to be followed in order to get it
addressed in the form of public policy.

Format:

a) the Name of Policy you are drafting (eg Parking Policy- this is just an example)
Please Note the policy brief must be addressed to your ward committee. Make sure it
is clear from the onset

b) Introduction

The Policy brief must talk to the following issues:

(i) What are the developments which necessitate this policy?

(ii) Why is it necessary to have this policy?

(iii)What has happened or is happening which needs this policy?

(iv)What are the issues at hand requiring policy intervention?

(vi)What are complementary laws/legislations related to this policy or that can support
this policy?

(vii) How are they supportive of the policy?

(viii) What problem/s trigger the need for policy?

(ix)What are concrete challenges that make the policy necessary?

(x) What legitimates the inception of the policy? Are the statements by Ministers or
senior politicians in your ward, which may give credibility to the policy?

(b) The Scope of Policy/context:

(i) What is the primary objective/s of the policy? At least 2 to 3 objectives/goals that
the policy seeks to accomplish.

(ii) What are the policy boundaries (who does it include and who does it exclude and

why?) Sometimes policy covers certain people and activities but is not applicable, for

instance to visitors in the country or foreign nationals or disabled citizens – so state

who does the policy include and exclude if any

(iii) who are the target stakeholders –

(iv) who are primary and secondary stakeholders and why? The target stakeholders

could be people who work in the building and own cars, in the case of parking policy

but primary stakeholders could be the owners of the building and management of the

government department that has leased the building.

(V) Is there policy/policies that are being replaced by the policy you are drafting -if

yes name them and explain why?

vi) If not why was there no policy in the area you have chosen?

(vii) Explain if this is a new policy and why it is new or if it is amending an existing
policy, clarify why the amendment is needed and which areas are amended

(c) Stages of public policy making

I. Discuss the stages in the process of making public policy: 1. identification of

the problem; 2. agenda setting; 3. policy development/formulation; 4. policy

implementation; and 5. policy evaluation, and policy change (if necessary).

II. Make sure to discuss the policy options

III. Make sure that each stage is properly explained and linked to your policy

issue.

(d) Policy recommendations

I. Provide compelling and accurate evidence that convinces the reader to

accept the potential solution. The recommendations should stem from the

policy options identified earlier.

II. The importance/relevance of all pieces of argument is clearly stated.

III. There are no gaps in reasoning—i.e., the reader does not need to assume

anything or do additional research to understand the solution posed.

(e) References and citations

Make sure that you cite and reference all the sources consulted in the process of

writing your policy brief