The Role of Government in Policy †Making Essay Example for Free

The Role of Government in Policy – Making Essay The public policy making process often takes place in a policy environment that is broad and comprises of both official and non-official players. Civil society groups that are organized comprise the membership of non-official players. Such groups include women’s lobbies, business associations, labor unions and church organizations.   On the other hand, positions of the formal state are often occupied by the official players.   These positions derive their guidance and means of exercising their authority from the constitution that exist in the country. In addition; it is the political community that describes the formal state positions. A steady transformation which most of the time has been unnoticed has been taking place in the American government and debates have marginalized the previous institutions and processes and public policy has recently been centralized on the new processes especially the non-governmental ones.   By performing the desired work for the people, responsibility has mostly been shared by the American government as well as non-profit organizations, various levels of government and the private companies (Kettl, 2000). The process of policy making often starts with unexpected occurrences and mechanisms that are triggering and this leads to disturbance of the daily routines that take place in the environment.   This process is the responsibility of policy makers who occupy the pivotal positions as concerns power.   These people (policy makers) are often under pressure as they are faced with a variety of competing interests in their quest to come up with informed decisions concerning policies so as to improve the existing conditions and their tasks may become difficult especially in societies where there exist open public expression of opinions and conflicts, for instance the United States (Kettl, 2000).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The shaping of public policy takes place under various institutions and levels of government such as the judiciary, legislature, bureaucracy, President among others.   The legislative plays various roles and tasks in shaping public policy.   Ã‚  The legislature plays the task of formulating policy proposals so that various existing problems can be solved.   Policy formulation consists of factual, the theoretical and value premises.   In an organizational setting, policy formulation lies with the administration of such organizations that are charged with the responsibility of coming up with rational, goal-oriented and responsible policies that could be useful in solving various organizational problems. As a result, these policies when applied by organization result in efficiency in these institutions.   In addition, organizations can then be said to posses drives, values and skills in decision making processes, problem formulation, evaluation and agenda setting.   The legislature’s other role is making of the laws that affect the entire nation positively and at the same time ensure that the interests of their constituencies are met through their representation with the objective of improving the existing quality of life for citizens (Long, 1996). The judiciary on the other hand has actively been active in the process of policy making in United States.   The administration of education, penal, environmental protection, welfare and mental health policies has mainly taken place as a result of the participation of the courts in their formulation.   Courts also play the role of perceiving crimes that have been committed and judges have the responsibility of monitoring the various activities that are conducted by institutions.   In certain circumstances, courts have also attempted to carry out restructuring process in these institutions so that change in their policies as well as processes is implemented (Kettl, 2000).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Salvation Army is a religious based organization, registered in the United States of America, with different goals and objectives.   Although the principle objective of the organization is to spread Christianity, the organizational policies and governance is firmly embedded in the US constitution.   Therefore, the organization is obliged to obey all statutes under the US constitution (Ellickson, 1996).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For instance, the Salvation Army is required to operate under the associations act whereby elections for some posts in the organization, are supposed to be conducted as provided for in the law.   In addition, the organization operates with a fiscal budget which is subject to auditing as provided for in the law.   Therefore, the Salvation Army strives to meet all government legislations making it a law abiding organization.   By doing that, the Salvation Army upholds basic tenets which ensure that every citizen enjoys their fundamental rights as provided for in the constitution (Ellickson, 1996).   Additionally,   the organization participates in promoting good governance, especially through its corporate social responsibility arm which extends assistance not only to Americans who are needy but also the organization has been in the fore front in promoting bilateral relations through bilateral aid to developing countries. In conclusion, it is evident from the discussion above that the legal process and especially the judiciary in United States of America, plays a significant role in governance.   For an organization like the Salvation Army, the legal process offers the necessary benchmark against which such an organization lays its policies.   Finally,   for law and order to be realized every organization, irrespective of its ideological leaning must uphold the constitution. Reference    Ellickson, R. C. (1996). Controlling Chronic Misconduct in City Spaces: Of Panhandlers, Skid Rows, and Public-Space Zoning. Yale Law Journal, 105(5), 1165-1248. Retrieved August 11, 2007, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=5000328549 Kettl, D. F. (2000). The Transformation of Governance: Globalization, Devolution, and the Role of Government. Public Administration Review, 60(6), 488. Retrieved August 11, 2007, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=5001131131 Long, N. E. (1996). Public Policy and Administration: The Goals of Rationality and Responsibility. Public Administration Review, 56(2), 149-4. Retrieved August 11, 2007, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=5000345114