Governments provide goods and services, and can produce goods and services, as well. Such goods and services are generally in support of broader public policies which are put in place by the federal government, or state or local governments. In theory, the formation of public policy occurs prior to the introduction of any other programs that may be developed, but it has only been since the 1970s that serious and scholarly study has been directed toward the formation of public policy. Generally, public policy is concerned with the application of formal methods and programs that may be put in place in the public sector, and the ways in which policies are shaped and implemented has political overtones as well as ramifications for public managers.
There is no one precise definition of public policy. It can refer to the intentions declared by political parties in an election (such as are put forth in the party platform); it can refer to a specific government program rather than just an intention; it may be general rules that guide the specific actions of bureaucrats and politicians in a specific place and time; or, it can be extended to include everything the government does (Bryan, 1997).
Lacking a single definition of public policy, it can be said that public policy is what public administrators implement (Bryan, 1997). It is the overarching philosophy which guides the development of specific policy programs and has political overtones which can be used by politicians as well as bureaucrats to generate public support (or disagreement) for specific programs. Public policy can be found in both public administration and in political science, but it is only in recent years that serious attempts have been made to separate public policy from the programs which are implemented to support it. Since the 1970s, increasing numbers of political scientists and public administrators have been concerned not only with the process of public...