Public Policy Administration

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at how public policy in America reflects the values, interests, and preferences of the governing elite and how believing that public policy reflects the demands of the people expresses the myth, rather than the reality, of democracy. It looks at how the simple reality is that public policy is made from the top down; the underlying values of democracy, liberty, and equality are fundamental moral values belonging to every individual. It focuses on the issue of gay marriage and the fight to have it legalized.

Outline
Introduction
Issue Statement
Beliefs and Values
History and Overview
Key Players and Influences
Actions
Barriers
Conclusion and Recommendations

From the Paper:

"The gay-marriage issue has been on the back burner for decades, but it did not become a priority for gay-rights advocates till the 1990s. Before the Vermont case, state courts in both Hawaii and Alaska issued preliminary rulings in favor of gay marriage. The court moves in both of these cases were stopped by state constitutional amendments (Jost, 2003). During this same time period, the Netherlands and Belgium became the first and second countries to recognize same-sex marriage, by parliamentary action. In June 2003, the Canadian government announced that it would acquiesce to a ruling by Ontario's highest provincial court and would begin to prepare legislation to legalize same-sex marriages for couples throughout the country."

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