LEVEL 2 Administered by the Center for Civic Education in cooperation with the National Conference of State Legislatures STEP II An Introduction to Public Policy PURPOSE This step provides background information of society. You should also be able to that is useful in understanding the meaning of evaluate, take, and defend positions on the term “public policy” and the role of public which parts of society may be best suited policy in local, state, and national government. to deal with certain problems. Finally, you When you have completed this lesson you should be able to explain the role of public should be able identify the private sphere, policy in dealing with common problems civil society, and government as three parts of society. 11 ■A What Are the Private organizations. Although these associations and organizations operate within legal limits, Sphere, Civil Society, participation in them is not required by and Government? law and they are not part of government. Associations and organizations in civil For the purposes of this project, it is useful society can provide an effective means to look at society as being composed of the for monitoring and influencing government. following three areas or spheres. They may also provide a means of checking or limiting the use of power by government. Government This part of society includes formal governmental institutions at local, state, and national levels. These include legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government at all three levels. Private sphere This is the part of society in which family and friends associate to pursue their private interests within the law, free of unreasonable and unfair intrusion by government Civil society This is the part of society where people associate or interact voluntarily to pursue interests they share. They may do so as individuals or as members of social, economic, or political associations or 12 ■B Class Activity — 5 Sara and her two sisters join Distinguishing Among Areas a labor union. or Spheres of Society ćA ćB ćC ćD Listed below are some everyday events 6 The Sierra Club lobbies state that might occur in the United States. For legislators to pass environmental each event, identify whether it takes place protection laws. in ćA the private sphere, ćB civil society, ćA ćB ćC ćD ćC government, or ćD a combination of any of these. 7 The state legislature passes a law limiting the use of cell phones while driving. 1 A local school board changes ćA ćB ćC ćD graduation requirements. 8 Citizens join a taxpayer’s association ćA ćB ćC ćD in an effort to get government to 2 Susan becomes a member of the lower taxes. Girl Scouts. ćA ćB ćC ćD ćA ćB ćC ćD 9 The federal government awards a 3 Carmen and her friend go out to contract to a private company to repair dinner and a movie. sections of an interstate highway. ćA ćB ćC ćD ćA ćB ćC ćD 4 Marco’s family and friends have 10 A city council passes a law establish- a picnic on July 4. ing smoke free zones in public parks. ćA ćB ćC ćD ćA ćB ćC ćD 13 ■C Which Areas of Society Should Deal with Certain Problems? Sometimes it is very clear what problems and issues should be dealt with by either the private sphere, civil society, governmental institutions or a combination of these areas or spheres of society. At other times, reasonable people may differ about which part of society should take responsibility for dealing with certain problems or types of problems. These differences might be based ■D on personal opinions or philosophical posi- Class Activity — Taking tions about the proper role of government Positions on Which Area in society. Some people think government or Areas of Society Should should take responsibility for a large range Take Primary Responsibility of problems in society while others think for Dealing with Common government should be limited to a smaller range and that many problems should be Problems dealt with by civil society or individuals The following are some common problems acting in the private sphere. in society. For each problem, be prepared to take and defend a position on which of the following three parts of society or what combination of them should be primarily responsible for dealing with the problem: ćA the private sphere, ćB civil society, or ćC government. 1 Ensuring that children from birth to three years old eat nutritious food and develop healthy hygiene habits ćA ćB ćC 2 Ensuring that children receive equal educational opportunities ćA ćB ćC 3 Promoting the moral development of young children ćA ćB ćC 4 Caring for elderly poor people ćA ćB ćC 14 ■E What is Public Policy? 5 Protecting the borders of the country ćA ćB ćC There are reasonable differences of opinion among scholars on the definition of 6 Maintaining streets in cities and towns the term “public policy.” Because examining ćA ćB ćC these differences would divert attention from the principal goals of Project Citizen, 7 Providing medical care for the indigent the definition stated below has been ćA ćB ćC selected as most useful for the purposes of the project. 8 Protecting people from criminal activity ćA ćB ćC Definition and function 9 Upholding the moral standards of public policy of the community In democracies, a public policy is a ćA ćB ćC concept or set of ideas that guides a course of action or a procedure used in dealing 10 Building highways, bridges, and dams with public issues or problems. ćA ćB ćC 11 Protecting the country from Public policies are often embodied in external attack laws, rules, or regulations or agreed upon procedures used by government to fulfill ćA ćB ćC its responsibilities to protect the rights 12 Promoting economic prosperity of the people and to promote the general welfare. ćA ćB ćC 15 For example: • all states have laws that provide for free public education for students of certain ages to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to be competent and responsible citizens and to be able to earn a living. These laws reflect a policy of respect for the rights of individuals to the “pursuit of happiness” and a concern with promoting the general welfare by encouraging the development of a society composed of knowledgeable, skilled, responsible, and self-reliant citizens. Public policies serve to distribute certain benefits and burdens of society, manage Governments at local, state, and national the allocation of resources, and manage levels create public policies, carry them conflicts. For example, public policy out, and manage disputes about them. For example: • provides all young people the benefit of a free public education and places • a local government might promote upon taxpayers the burden of conservation by establishing a policy paying for it requiring people to separate recyclable trash from other trash • manages the use of public lands by lumber companies • a state government might hold hearings to listen to disputes among • provides for a system of courts to developers and environmentalists manage conflicts among people about the proper use of public lands Implementation of public policies Public policies may be implemented by • governmental institutions acting alone, such as the federal government managing the distribution of Social Security benefits to eligible people • governmental institutions acting cooperatively with civil society, such as agencies of the federal or state government awarding a contract to a private company to construct high- ways, bridges, dams, or airports 16 • governmental institutions and civil Procedural justice society acting independently, but deal- and the development and ing with the same problem. For example: implementation of public policy • both local government and religious Procedural justice refers to the fairness of organizations might provide home- the ways information is gathered and the less shelters or child-care facilities fairness of the ways decisions are made. • governmental agencies and charitable In democracies, in particular, people working organizations such as the Red Cross in governmental agencies and institutions, might have independent programs the “servants of the people,” are required to designed to help people affected use fair procedures in the development and by natural disasters implementation of public policy that, among other goals, enable the people to observe • civil society handling problems and take part in their government. The not dealt with by government in goals of procedural justice are to accordance with a government policy. This leaves such problems to be • increase the chances of discovering dealt with by civil society or the information necessary to make wise private sphere. For example: and just decisions • professional associations might • insure the wise and fair use of provide special programs and the information in making decisions training to enhance the knowledge • protect important values and and skills of their members interests such as the right to privacy, • religious institutions might try human dignity, freedom, distributive to enhance the morality of their justice, and efficiency constituents 17 • Provide expert assistance when needed People who wish to have a voice in a proposed action by government should have the right to the assistance of experts in relevant fields when they participate in the process, such as a translator or an attorney to help them present their position. • Provide the right to supportive witnesses and to examine opposing witnesses People should have the right to the assistance of witnesses supporting their position and to examine witnes- For procedures to be fair they should ses opposing their position. adhere to the following: • Provide the right • Be open to the public to an impartial hearing Unless there is a very good reason Decisions should be made by impartial for secrecy such as national defense third parties who do not stand to benefit or the protection of minor children, from the outcome of their decisions.