Public+Policy

Policy Making Process Environmental Policy Foreign and Defense Policy Domestic Policy //__**Economic policy:**__//


 * Deficit**- What occurs when the government in one year spends more money than it takes in from taxes.
 * National Debt**-The total deficit from the first presidency down the the present.
 * Gross Domestic Product**- The total of all goods and services produced in the economy during a given year.
 * Monetarism**- The belief that inflation occurs when too much money is chasing too few goods.
 * Keynesianism**- The belief the government must manage the economy by spending more money when in a recession and cutting spending when there is inflation.
 * Monetary Policy**-Managing the economy by altering the supply of money and interest rates.
 * Fiscal Policy**- Managing the economy by the use of tax and spending laws.
 * Budget**-A document that states tax collections, spending levels, and the allocation of spending among purposes.
 * Fiscal Year**- For the federal government, October 1 through the following September 30.
 * Budget Resolution**- A congressional decision that states the maximum amount of money the government should spend.
 * Entitlements**- A claim for government funds that cannot be changed without violating the rights of the claimant.
 * Economic Planning**- The belif that government plans, such as wage and price controls or the direction of investment, can improve the economy.
 * Supply -side Theory**- The belief that lower taxes and fewer regulations will stimulate the economy.
 * Reaganomics**- The belief that a combnation of mentarism, lower federal spending, and supply-side economics will stimulate the economy.

Everyone wants a rapid increase in income and wealth. In reality these people do not vote for the politicians who promise to award contracts to firms that would hire them or who would create programs that would benefit them, regardless of how well other people were getting along. The people tend to hold the politicians responsible for their own well-being. There are three economic factors that make a difference to voters. These are economic health of the nation, amount and kinds of government spending, and the level and distribution of taxes.

__**ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS AND SOCIAL WELFARE --- A QUESTION ON THIS!!!**__

__**Social Welfare:**__ Charitable Choice-name given to four federal laws passed in the late 1990s specifying the conditions under which nonprofit religious organizations could compete to administer certain social service delivery and welfare programs Insurance Program-a self-financing government program based on contributions that providebenefits to unemployed or retired persons Assistance Program-government program financed by general income taxes that provides benefits to poor citizens without requiring contribution from them Means Test-an income qualification program that determines whether one is eligible for benefits under government programs reserved for lower income groups

Major Social Welfare Programs:
 * Medicare**: pays medical care for elderly
 * Medicaid**: Pays medical expenses to the poor
 * Earned Income Tax Credit:** pays cash subsidy to poor working families. //Means test// is used to determine if incomes are below a certain level.
 * Temporary Assistance for Needy Families:** payments to needy families with children. Paid with block grants, means test is used.
 * Service Strategy**: A policy providing the poor with the benefits of training and education.
 * Income Strategy**: Policy which gives the poor money.


 * __KNOW THE FOUR TYPES OF PUBLIC POLICY --- A GENERAL QUESTION ON THIS!__**

Four Types of Policy Making: Interest Group Politics-a small group benefits and another small group pays Cost-burden people must bear if policy is enacted Benefit-satisfaction that people believe they will enjoy if policy is adopted Client Politics- small group benefits and almost everybody pays Pork Barrel Legislation-gives tangible benefits to constituents in hope of winning their votes Logrolling-legislator supports another legislator's proposal in return for support in is Majoritarian Politics- almost everybody benefits and almost everybody pays Entrepreneurial Politics-amost everybody benefits and a small group pays Policy Entrepreneurs-activists who pull together a political majority on behalf of unorganized interests

Great issues are shaped by majoritarian politics as going to war and other things are paid for by all taxpayers. President holds much power in this, examples include Lincoln suspending Habeas Corpus and Roosevelt with the internment camps. The public will also support the president. Elite opinion divided into four worldviews: isolationism, containment, disengagement, and human rights Decision-making is organized so civilians have control. The president is assisted by National Security Council and secretaries of State and Defense. Civilians influence military through president. Military budget will abide by majoritarian politics, but interest groups can intervene with military contractors. War Powers Act: Passed in 1973- pres must report to congress within 48 hours after he introduces U.S. troops into dangerous areas. Limits president's war powers.
 * __Foreign and Military Policy:__**

worldviews: A comprehensive opinion of how the United States should respond to world problems. Before WW2 people opposed a foreign intervention policy. World force after WW2 through marshall plan, United Nations, and the Korean War. isolationism: The opinion that the United States should withdraw from world affairs. Adopted after WW1 containment: The belief that the United States should resist the expansion of aggressive nations, especially the former Soviet Union. Also known as anti-appeasment. disengagement: The belief that the United States was harmed by its war in Vietnam and so should avoid supposedly similar events. human rights: The view that we should try to improve the lives of people in other countries. military-industrial complex: An alleged alliance between military leaders and corporate leaders. cost overruns: When the money actually paid to military suppliers exceeds the estimated costs. Overruns happened in '50s because it is difficult to tell how much building something will cost. gold plating: The tendency of Pentagon officials to ask weapons contractors to meet excessively high requirements. bipolar world: A political landscape with two superpowers. unipolar world: A political landscape with one superpower.