Public Policy – alternative definitions

1. a dynamic, complex, and interactive system through which public problems

are identified and countered by creating new public policy or by reforming
existing public policy (John, Peter (1998). Analysing Public Policy. Continuum)

2. the principled guide to action taken by the administrative executive branches

of the state with regard to a class of issues, in a manner consistent with law and
institutional customs

3. the means by which a government maintains order or addresses the needs of

its citizens through actions defined by its constitution

4.a principle that no person or government official can legally

perform an act that
tends to injure the public

5. a term used to describe a collection of laws, mandates, or regulations

established through a political process
 Characteristics of public policies
• address the needs of people
• originate in endless ways and require different policy responses (such
as regulations, subsidies, quotas, and laws) on the local, national, or
international level
• commonly embodied in "constitutions, legislative acts, and judicial
decisions"
• manifest the common sense and common conscience of
the citizens as a whole that extends throughout the
state and is applied to matters of public health, safety, and welfare
• represent general, well-settled public opinion relating to the
duties of citizens to their fellow citizens
• import something that fluctuates with the changing
economic needs, social customs, and moral aspirations of the people
• enter into, and influence, the enactment, execution, and
interpretation of legislation
• The foundation of public policy is composed
of national constitutional laws and
regulations.
• further substrates include: judicial
interpretations and regulations which are
generally authorized by legislation
• Public policy making is a continuous process
that has many feedback loops. Verification and
evaluation are essential to the functioning of
this system.
• The public problems that influence public
policy making can be of economic, social, or
political nature. Each system is influenced by
different public problems and thus requires
different public policy.
Actors
• In public policy making, numerous individuals and interest
groups compete and collaborate to influence policymakers to
act in a particular way.
• The large set of actors in the public policy process, such as
politicians, civil servants, lobbyists, domain experts, and
industry representatives, use a variety of tactics and tools to
advance their aims, including advocating their positions
publicly, attempting to educate supporters and opponents,
and mobilizing allies on a particular issue.
• Many actors can be important in the public policy process,
but government officials ultimately choose public policy in
response to the public issue or problem at hand. In doing so,
government officials are expected to meet
public sector ethics and take the needs of all stakeholders
into account.
Evolution and Prospects
• Since societies have changed in the past decades the public policy
making system changed too.
• Today, public policy making is increasingly goal-oriented, aiming for
measurable results and goals, and decision-centric, focusing on
decisions that must be taken immediately.[6]
• Furthermore, mass communications and technological changes have
caused the public policy system to become more complex and
interconnected. The changes pose new challenges to the current
public policy systems and pressure them to evolve in order to remain
effective and efficient.

sources:
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-process-examples.html