Ch+17+Social+Welfare+Policy-Definitions,+Text+Notes,+Class+Notes+&+Connecting+Theory+to+Reality

**Vocabulary**
//Social Welfare Policy// - Government programs designed to improve quality of life. //Public Policy// - A course of action followed by government in dealing with some problem or mater of concern. //Agenda// - A set of issues to be discussed or given attention. //Systemic Agenda//-All public issues that are viewed as requiring governmental attention; a discussion agenda. //Governmental Agenda//-The changing list of issues to which governments believe they should address themselves. Policy Adoption - THe approval of a policy proposal by the people with the requisite authority, such as a legislature. Policy implementation - THe process of carrying out public policy through governmental agencies and the courts. Policy evaluation - The process of determining whether a course of action is acheving its intended goals. //agenda setting-// the constant process of forming the list of issues to be addressed by government. //policy formation//- the crafting of apporpriate and acceptable proposed courses of action to resolve public issues Social Security Act- A 1935 law that est. insurance and assistance for the needy, children, and others, and unemployment insurance. **Elitist theory:** only a chosen, or elite, few make policies for the nation **Bureaucratic theory:** all institutions (government and non-government) are under control of a large and growing bureaucracy that carries out policy by using standardized procedures **Entitlement program:** income security program to which all those meeting eligibility criteria are entitled
 * Means-tested program-** A program to assist those whose income falls below a certain level.
 * Non-Means-Based Program-** A program that is not based on income or means on the recipient. Social Security is a non-means-based program because it is given to anyone, regardless of their income, once they hit the age for it.

Test Notes & Class Notes
__Theories__ Elite Theory- the chosen few make important decisions Bureacratic Theory- bureacratic carries out policy in a standardized procedure Interest Group Theory- interest groups control the government process Pluralist Theory- no one group has complete contol over the government

Entitlement programs: any benefit provided by law and regardless of need if that person meets eligibilty requirements (social security, medicare) Means-tested programs: benefits for people with specific needs (food stamps, medicaid) making agencies accountable Executive control-> appoint leaders of agencies Congressional Control -> power of the purse, approval of appointees, oversight judicial control -> rule things unconstituional/ illegal

Stages of the Public Policy Process 1. **Problem recognition and definition**- Identifying a problem that needs to be adressed 2. **Agenda setting**, the constant process of deciding what issues should be adressed by the government 3. **Policy Formulation**, the practice of coming up with policy ideas that will resolve public problems a) Routine Formulation: basically a redudant form of policy formulation, almost unnecessary because the lack of resulting change. usually occurs within such issues as veterans' benefits b)Analogous Formulation: uses direct previous experience or knowledge, or the experience and knowledge of other states/governments to formulate new policies and ideas. c)Creative Formulation: the formulation of new, original policies that may have been unnecessary in the past or are just very different ideas and plans from what was used in the past 4. **Policy adoption**- the approval of the policy by the legislature; making a bill into a law 5. **Budgeting**-necessary for funding policies and agendas; good or poor budgeting has a great effect on whether or not a policy is effective and impacting -the power to give or cut off funding is an extremely powerful tool for congressional committee chairs 6. **Policy Implementation**, the process of carrying out public policy through the federal bureaucracy 7. **Policy Evaluation**- determining whether the policy is achieving the set goals

Unemployment Insurance - funded by payroll tax paid by employers - covers employers of 4 or more people but not part-time workers - paid to employed workers who were not fired for person faults or quit & who are willing to accept suitable employment

Income security programs fall into two categories: non-means-based programs and means tested programs. Non-means based programs provide cash assistance to people regardless of their income, but based on their age and needs. Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment benefits are all non-means tested. Means tested programs require people to have incomes below a specific amount to qualify. Medicaid, food stamps and assitance for needy families are all means tested programs.
 * Income Security Programs**

__**Agenda Setting**__ Two different types = //**Governmental (institutional) agenda -**// the changing list of issues to which govenrments believe they should address themselves.
 * //Systematic Agenda -//** all public issues that are viewed as requiring governmental attention; a discussion agenda