Set of ideas/proposals for
action, culminating in a
government decision
Implemented at all
levels, from EU to
local gov.
Can be made at
one level and
implemented at
another
Can be made on
a territorial basis
E.g. Scottish
Parliament
implement
policing policy,
police
themselves
decide how to
put policy into
practice
Policies on areas such
as housing, education,
paternity leave,
immigration etc.
Stage 1: Agenda
Setting
John Kingdon- 3
streams that need
to conjoin
Recognition of a problem (problem stream)
Identification of
possible solution
(policy stream)
The requisite
opportunities, time,
accession to power of a
party prepared to act
(political stream)
Stage where
politicians try to get
public and crucial
sectors to see the issue
in the way they desire
Need assurance
that their idea
has public suport
Not all
proposals can
be taken
further, so
having proof of
public support
is an advantage
The media have a
massive impact on
public support, and in
turn, whether a policy
is considered or not
E.g. Michael Buerk,
television newsreader,
showed famine and chaos
in Ehtiopia, which
initiated action from UK
gov.
Politicians can use
media to their
advantage, to almost
twist the arms of the
government
E.g. Tony Blair stating on
television that fox hunting
WOULD be banned in 1999
Media effects the climate
in which policy is
discussed
Rupert Murdoch was
thought to advise Tony Blair
to a degree, due to regular
visits to Downing Street, all
greeted with warm welcome
6 main
initiators
General
Public
Cause
groups,
media,
academics
Extra parliamentary
parties, party
groupings
Party groupings-
parliamentary think tanks
such as Fabian Society
(West wing) and The
Institute for Public Policy
Research (Labour think
tank, consistently
presenting research and
feeding into ideas
Parliament, party
sources, select
committees and
Opposition
Prime Minister Cabinet,
Cabinet Office Policy Unit,
Policy Advisers
Policy
Formulation
Detailed examination and
elaboration after agenda
receives political
endorsement
Key players in this
stage
Civil Servants
Pressure Group Leaders
Media and academic experts
Ministers
Learning phase, where civil servants
and ministers acquaint themselves with
detail of the measure, close contact
with practitioners and experts in
necessary fields
The bureaucratic process
Numerous
information
gathering and
advisory
committee
meetings
Sequences of
coordinating
meetings with other
ministries, e.g. if
finance is involved
then meetings with
the Treasury
The Legislative
Process
Readings and
debates in both
chambers
Influences the shape
the legislation takes
Politicians must have clear and stated
points to be successful in their debates
Decision Making
A decision will be made
over whether to
implement a certain
policy
Policy is set out in a bill
before House of
Commons and the
House of Lords
However the House of
Lords can only delay most
bills for a year
Constraints on
Policy Makers
They are accountable to
the public an under
constant scrutiny
Powerful and influential pressure
groups breathe down the neck of
policy makers, as a way to reach
their ends
Financial
Resources-operate
realistically within
financial limits
Political support-
necessary to gain
endorsement for a
policy idea, resistance
to policies can kill
them off en route- e.g.
poll tax
Competence of
key personnel
Time constraints
Timing- if timing isn't
good then policy will
fail, a good time is
considered to be after a
General Election
Coordination of the
policy between various
departments