The policymaking process in the United States relies heavily on society’s desire for action. This point cannot be underemphasized. Without gaining public support for an issue, the legislature has little political incentive to develop a plan of action. The two primary ways of generating public support for an issue are 1) through organized groups who are able to educate others about the problem, and 2) through the media.
In the U.S., a policy cycle begins with the creation of a course of action, followed by enactment of a law, and then actions that are designed to carry out that law successfully. Then, when any policy has been in place for a reasonable period of time, it should be re-evaluated to determine if it has achieved the original goals, what the costs were, and what changes, if any, need to be made. This was keenly pointed out by Vig and Kraft in their seminal book, Environmental Policy: New Directions for the Twenty-First Century, 2006).
Environmental law – checks and balances
Jurisdiction and the wording of the law are never crystal-clear. Legal challenges help to define boundaries on the reach of the regulatory agencies. A timely example of this policymaking process at work can be seen in the discussion of climate change and energy usage.
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