The Role of Government in Policy-Making

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that, in the US, the public policy process essentially begins with a bill, or proposed law, being introduced for consideration into both chambers of Congress, which is comprised of the US Senate and House of Representatives. The writer then explains that public policy is shaped by the federal judiciary system in one of two ways. The first way is through statutory construction, in which courts interpret the definitions of laws and administrative regulations. Congress can overturn a Supreme Court decision involving statutory construction with which it disagrees. The second way is through judicial review, in which courts decide whether any law or administrative action passed by either Congress or certain state legislatures is in violation of the US Constitution. The writer concludes that the role the court system has played in shaping policies that affect the American Civil Liberties Union is that it continually passes judgment on the various cases brought to it by the organization on behalf of various underprivileged individuals.

From the Paper:

"These laws and decisions influence the organization's decision-making operations by helping it to narrow down the types of social and political issues it would be interested in tackling. Such issues include those pertaining to free speech, the death penalty, disability rights, drug policy, HIV/AIDS, immigrant rights, prisoners' rights, lesbian and gay rights, privacy and technology, rights of the poor, police practices, racial justice, reproductive freedom and women's rights among various others. In its everyday activities these laws help ACLU to choose the specific types of court cases and lobbying efforts relevant to the various issues it is specifically known to deal with. Currently the ACLU handles up to 6,000 cases per year with 100 of its own staff attorneys and 2000 volunteer attorneys."

Sample of Sources Used:

• " Freedom of Expression: ACLU Position Paper" (1997, January 2). Retrieved May 14, 2007 from American Civil Liberties Union Website: http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/gen/11178pub19970102.html
• "Guardians of Freedom." Retrieved May 14, 2007 from American Civil Liberties Union Website: http://www.aclu.org/about/faqs/21419res20051115.html
• "United States of America." (2005) In Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2005 DVD.

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