The public policy process, in simplified form, can be understood as a sequence of four phases: agenda setting, formulation, implementation, and evaluation.
Discuss an established US federal government policy (I’m flexible on time-frame… pick a topic that genuinely interests you and justify its continuing importance and relevance if on the older side) that illustrates each of the four stages of the policy-making process. 50 Points will be allocated for your analysis of each of the four phases. Pick a topic with enough richness (certainly inherent controversy) and depth to do justice to the full scope of policy-making, to include evaluation. Your chosen policy will need to be established enough to have had time to be reviewed.
Some examples that come immediately to mind might be a specific immigration policy in a former administration, sanctions on bad actor nations within the last 30 years with short and long term impact, any given military action, legalization of drugs (or conversely the ‘war’ on drugs), legalization of gay marriage, Obamacare, abortion rights, vouchers for education and so forth.
Explain your selection by noting the original social problem involved in the situation, comment on the various actors in developing the policy, discuss their interest in that problem, and conclude with analysis of the successes or failures of that policy.
For a final 50 points, wrap up your essay with a conclusion discussing how this policy has or has not impacted your culture, your community, your workplace, your family and yourself as an individual. Using your chosen policy as a reference point, reflect on your current and future participation – active (running for office) and/or passive (being a taxpayer) – in civic life. Consider how this policy helps or hinders that participation and why.
Include a Bibliography listing the news articles, journals, books, local publications, historical documents and/or any other source material used to support your points.