POLICYMAKING INSTITUTIONS

POLICYMAKING INSTITUTIONS

Legislative, executive, courts, bureaucracy

The Bill of Rights is a prominent example of the role of policymaking institutions. In response to some of the concerns of Anti-Federalists, the Bill of Rights was introduced during the First Congress in 1789. With these amendments, the concerns of the people were translated into policy that created significant change in how the government operates and how the people interact with their government as a whole. 

After a policy is created, there must also be a stage of policy implementation to enforce the new policy. Implementation usually includes at least three elements:

  1. The creation of a new agency or the assignment of a new responsibility to a new agency

  2. A translation of policy goals into operational rules and the development of guidelines for the program

  3. The coordination of resources and personnel to achieve the intended goals of the policy

Standard operating procedures (SOPs) also serve as procedures for decision making so that bureaucrats can work more efficiently within complex organizations.

The Bill of Rights details the basic liberties such as freedom of religion, speech, and the press while guaranteeing rights of the defendant. The incorporation doctrine is a concept under which the Supreme Court made the Bill of Rights applicable nationwide. These liberties are meant to protect against discrimination, and the Supreme Court uses three standards of review to evaluate whether there is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause.

Legislative branch - 

The legislative branch consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Their primary responsibility is making laws and debating bills that are introduced. Congress also has the power to conduct investigations on possible corruption and internal matters of the government. The legislative branch works under a system of checks and balances, where they can hold the executive branch accountable while also checking the judicial branch through investigations and hearings.

Senate - 

The Senate consists of 100 senators, with 2 from each state. Senators serve six-year terms and a senator must be at least 30 years old and a citizen of the United States for at least nine years. The Senate plays a key role in passing legislation, and it is responsible for making decisions based on debates and information.

HoR - 

The House of Representatives consists of 435 members, with the number of representatives from each state being dependent on its population. The number of representatives can shift every ten years depending on shifting populations. Representatives serve two year terms and they must be at least 25 years old and a United States citizen for at least 7 years. The Speaker of the House is selected by the representatives and they hold power over the legislative agenda. The House is responsible for introducing and debating bills, and it also has the power to impeach federal officials.

Executive branch -

The executive branch consists of the President, the Vice President, the cabinet, and federal agencies and commissions. The President has the ability to enforce laws, serve as the commander in chief of the United States military, manage foreign relations, and influence the legislative process. The President is held accountable by oversight from the legislative and judicial branches and additionally by the media and members of the public.

Powers of the president - 

The President of the United States is the Chief Executive and can oversee the activities of federal agencies and departments. Additionally, the President can issue executive orders and appoint multiple members of the government. Alongside these powers, the President can also veto bills that are passed by Congress and propose legislation. The President is also considered the Commander in Chief of the United States and they have the ability to control military operations. Furthermore, the President can negotiate with other countries and appoint ambassadors to be confirmed by the Senate. The President also has many other privileges and responsibilities in addition to the aforementioned powers.

Judicial branch - 

The highest court of the United States is the Supreme Court, which consists of nine justices nominated by the President. Below the Supreme Court are lower federal courts such as district courts and courts of appeals. The judicial branch has the power of judicial review, which means that they can determine whether or not certain actions are deemed unconstitutional. The judicial branch can ensure that laws being passed by Congress are constitutional through the system of checks and balances.

Bureaucracy - 

The bureaucracy is a system of government in which there is a hierarchical structure with the specialization and division of labor.