Developing public policy solutions
Whenever, you have to make an important decision, it usually helps to first consider several alternatives. In this step, you need to develop three possible types of laws that would address your social problem.
Two prior steps can be very useful to developing public policy alternatives. One way to solve a problem is to eliminate or lessen the causes or contributory factors. For example, a policy for felons who are paroled from prison is that they may not associate with other criminals. The reason for this policy is to try to eliminate one of the causes. Review the causes and contributory factors that your group identified in step 3. Are there any that could be decreased or eliminated through a new public policy?
Another source for developing public policy alternatives is the current policy. Review step 4, especially your answer to question 4. Perhaps your group thinks that the current policy fails to even deal with the problem and should be totally replaced. Perhaps the current policy simply needs to be strengthened or improved ( e.g., tougher penalties, more public education about the policy, additional regulations, clearer guidelines, etc.)
Be sure that your group develops new/original public policy alternatives, not public policy goals. For example the following are public policy goals: improve education, reduce pollution, and lower the crime rate. Politicians often fill their speeches with public policy goals that can appeal to almost everyone. A public policy must include a specific type of government action to reach the public policy goal.
Finally, be sure that all of your public policy alternatives are at the same geopolitical level as your social problem. In other words, Congress passes laws to deal with national problems and state legislatures pass laws to deal with problems in their states over which the states have authority.
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