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American Public Policy
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American Public Policy
Promise and Performance

Thirteenth Edition


CQ Press
"This book is an excellent choice for anyone looking to bring the complicated world of public policy to their classroom." – Ben Galloway, University of Arkansas

Now in its Thirteenth Edition, American Public Policy provides a comprehensive yet accessible overview of the policymaking process, from procedural approaches and policy instruments to in-depth analysis of specific policy issues. Not shying away from the complexity of governmental procedure, B. Guy Peters and new coauthor John Hoornbeek ensure that the mechanisms of the policy process are understandable through discussion of topical policy areas.
 
Preface
 
About the Authors
 
Part I: The Nature of Public Policy
 
Chapter 1: What Is Public Policy
Defining Public Policy

 
The Instruments of Public Policy

 
The Environment of Public Policy

 
Summary

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 2: The Structure of Policymaking in American Government
Federalism

 
Separation of Powers

 
Subgovernments

 
Public and Private

 
The Size and Shape of the Public Sector

 
Summary

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 3: Explaining Policy Choices
Power and Public Policy

 
The Policy Process—The Stages Model

 
Institutional Models of Policy

 
Advocacy-Coalition Framework

 
Policy Causes Politics

 
Bounded Rationality, Multiple Streams, and Incrementalism

 
The Private Sector, Iron Triangles, and Networks

 
Optimal Decision-Making

 
Constructivist Models

 
Summary

 
Notes

 
 
Part II: The Making of Public Policy
 
Chapter 4: Agenda Setting and Public Policy
Agenda Setting

 
Kinds of Agendas

 
Who Sets Agendas?

 
From Problem to Issue: How to Get Problems on the Agenda

 
Focusing Events

 
Policy Formulation

 
Policy Design

 
Summary

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 5: Legitimating Policy Choices
Legislative Legitimation

 
Regulations and the Administrative Process

 
The Courts

 
Popular Legitimation

 
Summary

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 6: Organizations and Implementation
Dramatis Personae

 
Implementation

 
The Organizational Setting

 
Summary

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 7: Budgeting
Characteristics of the Federal Budget

 
The Budget Cycle

 
Problems in the Budget Process

 
The Overhang

 
Reforming Budgeting: Large-Scale Approaches in the 1960s and 1970s

 
From Scalpels to Axes: Budget Reform from the 1980s Onward

 
Summary

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 8: Evaluation and Policy Change
Problems in Evaluating Public Programs

 
Policy Change

 
Summary

 
Notes

 
 
Part III: Substantive Policy Issues
 
Chapter 9: Part III: Substantive Policy Issues
Background

 
The Goals of Economic Policy

 
The Instruments of Economic Policy

 
Summary

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 10: Tax Policy
Background

 
Public Opinion and Taxation

 
Choices in Tax Policy

 
The Politics of Tax Reform

 
Summary

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 11: Health Policies
Background

 
Problems in Health Care

 
The Affordable Care Act of 2010

 
Public Programs in Health Care

 
Health Care Regulation

 
Options for National Health Insurance

 
Summary

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 12: Social Security and Welfare
Social Insurance

 
Means-Tested Programs

 
The Persistence of Poverty in the United States

 
Summary

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 13: Education Policy
The Federal Government’s Role in Education

 
Issues of Education Policy

 
Summary

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 14: Energy and the Environment
Energy Policy

 
Background

 
Energy Sources

 
The Formation of Energy Policy

 
Environmental Policies

 
Implementation of Environmental Controls

 
Summary

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 15: Defense and Law Enforcement
Defense Policy

 
Problems of Defense Policy

 
Law Enforcement

 
Issues in Law Enforcement Policy

 
Summary

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 16: Social Issues and Public Policy
Background

 
Abortion and Reproductive Rights

 
LGBTQ Rights: Politics Comes Out of the Closet

 
The Separation of Church and State: School Prayer and Other Issues

 
Legalization of Marijuana

 
Summary

 
Notes

 
 
Part IV: Analyzing Public Policy
 
Chapter 17: Policy Analysis
Cost-Benefit Analysis

 
Ethical Analysis of Public Policy

 
Summary

 
Notes

 

I have personally seen the book inspire students to answer the calling to public service, and they've used it as their guiding light to successful theory and practice.

Leo Moscatelli
Seton Hall University
Review

This book is an excellent choice for anyone looking to bring the complicated world of public policy to their classroom.

Ben Galloway
University of Arkansas
Review

This book is well-organized and detailed, and I recommend it for undergraduate policy, pre-law, or public management students.

Chinyere Ogbanna-McGruder
Austin Peay State University
Review

This book is very accessible and gives a common-sense approach to the public policy process. Peters is a giant in the field, and this is some of his best work.

Mark Schwerdt
Lipscomb University
Review

B. Guy Peters

B. Guy Peters is Maurice Falk Professor of American Government at the University of Pittsburgh. He has written extensively in the areas of public administration and public policy, both for the United States and comparatively. Among his recent publications are the Handbook of Public Administration and The Quest for Control: Politicization of the Public Service More About Author

John Hoornbeek

John A. Hoornbeek serves as a Professor at Kent State University, where he is affiliated with the College of Public Health and its Center for Public Policy and Health. He teaches and conducts research on public policy, public health and the environment, and inter-governmental administration. Over the past decade, Dr. Hoornbeek’s research has focused largely on collaborative approaches for improving public health and the environment, and it has resulted in publications in multiple peer-reviewed outlets, including Health Services Research, Policy and Society, the Journal of Urban Affairs, and the American Journal of Public Health. More About Author