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Texas A & M University-College Station
POLS 207 AP Government and Politics:
POLICY MAKING PROCESS and
ECONOMIC POLICY Questions and
Answers 2026 Latest Update
PUBLIC POLICY
VOCAB: Public Policy Ans: an intentional course of action or inaction
followed by government dealing with issues of matter of concern
There are 5 stages of the public policy process. By the end of the 5 steps, if
the policy is ineffective likely the cycle restarts. What are the five steps Ans:
1) Agenda Setting: deciding what issues to to discuss
2) Policy Formulation: crafting proposed course of action
3) Policy Adoption: approval of a policy proposal
4) Policy Implementation: carrying the policy out
5) Policy Evaluation: did the policy achieve its goals
VOCAB: Policy Agenda Ans: issues that people believe require gov. action
Ex) taxes, energy, welfare, civil rights
What forces affecting legitimacy? Ans: - shared political views: determine if
it affects the legit. of the gov.
- customs and traditions
- impacts of events
What are the two stages of policy making? Ans: - placing an issue on the
agenda
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- deciding how to put a plan in effect
What has a big influence on legitimacy of the government? Ans: Big
government
Ex) little rock, federal payments to farmers
What is one example of a program that was implemented by the public
policy process? Ans: OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Act 1970
At a time when there is little public demand, public policy is implement due
to ... (4 things) Ans: - Special interest groups
- Institutions (Bureaucracy, Senate, President)
- Linking Institutions (media, political parties, elections and campaigns)
- State action
relative deprivation Ans: people's feelings that they are worse off than they
are expected to be (interest groups)
Professionalization of reform Ans: Senator Moynihan's description of
bureaucracy's new role: independent regulatory power (institutions)
"Do Not Call" law Ans: a policy, influenced by the states, that was adopted
for public policy (state)
MAKING A DECISION Ans: ...
Whats the most important thing in making a decision? Ans: Cost and
Benefits
widely distributed costs Ans: spread over many; income tax, social security
tax
narrowly concentrated costs Ans: over small numbers (regulations on
doctors, etc.)
widely distributed benefits Ans: spread over many (national security)
narrowly concentrated benefits Ans: over small numbers (subsidies to
farmers etc.)
© 2026 All rights reserved
Texas A & M University-College Station
POLS 207 AP Government and Politics:
POLICY MAKING PROCESS and
ECONOMIC POLICY Questions and
Answers 2026 Latest Update
PUBLIC POLICY
VOCAB: Public Policy Ans: an intentional course of action or inaction
followed by government dealing with issues of matter of concern
There are 5 stages of the public policy process. By the end of the 5 steps, if
the policy is ineffective likely the cycle restarts. What are the five steps Ans:
1) Agenda Setting: deciding what issues to to discuss
2) Policy Formulation: crafting proposed course of action
3) Policy Adoption: approval of a policy proposal
4) Policy Implementation: carrying the policy out
5) Policy Evaluation: did the policy achieve its goals
VOCAB: Policy Agenda Ans: issues that people believe require gov. action
Ex) taxes, energy, welfare, civil rights
What forces affecting legitimacy? Ans: - shared political views: determine if
it affects the legit. of the gov.
- customs and traditions
- impacts of events
What are the two stages of policy making? Ans: - placing an issue on the
agenda
© 2026 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
- deciding how to put a plan in effect
What has a big influence on legitimacy of the government? Ans: Big
government
Ex) little rock, federal payments to farmers
What is one example of a program that was implemented by the public
policy process? Ans: OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Act 1970
At a time when there is little public demand, public policy is implement due
to ... (4 things) Ans: - Special interest groups
- Institutions (Bureaucracy, Senate, President)
- Linking Institutions (media, political parties, elections and campaigns)
- State action
relative deprivation Ans: people's feelings that they are worse off than they
are expected to be (interest groups)
Professionalization of reform Ans: Senator Moynihan's description of
bureaucracy's new role: independent regulatory power (institutions)
"Do Not Call" law Ans: a policy, influenced by the states, that was adopted
for public policy (state)
MAKING A DECISION Ans: ...
Whats the most important thing in making a decision? Ans: Cost and
Benefits
widely distributed costs Ans: spread over many; income tax, social security
tax
narrowly concentrated costs Ans: over small numbers (regulations on
doctors, etc.)
widely distributed benefits Ans: spread over many (national security)
narrowly concentrated benefits Ans: over small numbers (subsidies to
farmers etc.)
© 2026 All rights reserved
