Public Policy
A Concise Introduction
3rd Edition
Published on 18. March 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
424 pages
978-1-0719-6287-9 (ISBN)
Description
Public Policy is a brief, student-friendly textbook that quickly connects readers to the inner workings of American public policy. The Third Edition has been updated to address issues around policymaking in the current political context, as well as recent policy questions around issues including health care, climate change, immigration, income inequality, tax and economic policy, and tuition costs.
Reviews / Votes
Public Policy, Third Edition by Sara Rinfret et al. provides a comprehensive introduction of U.S. public policymaking not only through the description and explanation of its institutional systems and structures but also through making the material relatable on personal level. In particular, the "Policy Choices" section in each substantive chapter makes the material practical and engaging, despite the complexities surrounding these policy options and issues. -- Ani Ter-Mkrtchyan * Review * Not only is this a solid academic text, but it resonates mightily with my students because our enrollment is predominantly female. When seeing themselves through these authors, my students feel empowered. For this and other reasons, this book fills an important void in academic scholarship. -- Hunter BacotMore details
Edition
3rd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Thousand Oaks
United States
Publishing group
Sage Publications Inc Ebooks
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Dimensions
Height: 185 mm
Width: 231 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
828 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-0719-6287-9 (9781071962879)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Book
03/2022
2nd Edition
CQ Press
€218.75
Shipment within 15-20 days
Persons
Dr. Sara R. Rinfret is currently a Professor of Public Administration and Associate Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs at Northern Arizona University. She has more than a decade of higher education administrative experience and is a nationally recognized scholar in regulatory policy, environmental policy, and public administration. She previously served as the Acting Dean for the Alexander Blewett School of Law, Chair of the Department of Public Administration and Policy, and the Director of Master of Public Administration at the University of Montana. To date, she has published 8 books and more than 40 peer reviewed articles, and several book chapters. She is the recipient of the Fulbright Specialist Program in public administration and studied with scholars at the University of Aarhus (Denmark, 2016). She holds an MPA from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs (Ohio State), and PhD in political science from Northern Arizona University.
Denise Scheberle is a clinical teaching professor for the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado- Denver. She is Professor Emerita from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay,where she served as the Herbert Fisk Johnson Professor in Environmental Studies and professor and chair of the Department of Public and Environmental Affairs. She is the recipient of national, state, and campus teaching awards, including the American Political Science Association's (APSA) Distinguished Teaching Award and University of Wisconsin Regents Teaching Excellence Award. She is the author of Industrial Disastersand Environmental Policy: Stories of Villains, Heroes, and the Rest of Us and Federalism and Environmental Policy: Trust and the Politics of Administration, as well as numerous articles. Her research focuses on environmental policy, public service, and intergovernmental relations. She holds a PhD in political science from Colorado State University and an MPA from the University of Wyoming.
Michelle C. Pautz is professor of political science and assistant provost of the Common Academic Program at the University of Dayton. Her research has appeared in Administration & Society, Administrative Theory & Praxis, Journal of Political Science Education, Journal of Environmental Studies & Sciences, Journal of Public Affairs Education, Policy Studies Journal, PS: Political Science & Politics, Public Voices, and the Review of Policy Research, among others. She is the author of Civil Servants on the Silver Screen: Hollywood's Depiction of Government and Bureaucrats; coauthor of The Lilliputians of Environmental Regulation: The Perspective of State Regulators and U.S. Environmental Policy in Action: Practice & Implementation (now in its second edition), both with Sara Rinfret; and coeditor of Administering the U.S. Food System: Revisiting Food Policy and Politics. She is the recipient of the University of Dayton's Alumni Award for Faculty Teaching in 2016. She holds a PhD in public administration and an MPA from Virginia Tech. She earned a BA in economics, political science, and public administration from Elon University.
Denise Scheberle is a clinical teaching professor for the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado- Denver. She is Professor Emerita from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay,where she served as the Herbert Fisk Johnson Professor in Environmental Studies and professor and chair of the Department of Public and Environmental Affairs. She is the recipient of national, state, and campus teaching awards, including the American Political Science Association's (APSA) Distinguished Teaching Award and University of Wisconsin Regents Teaching Excellence Award. She is the author of Industrial Disastersand Environmental Policy: Stories of Villains, Heroes, and the Rest of Us and Federalism and Environmental Policy: Trust and the Politics of Administration, as well as numerous articles. Her research focuses on environmental policy, public service, and intergovernmental relations. She holds a PhD in political science from Colorado State University and an MPA from the University of Wyoming.
Michelle C. Pautz is professor of political science and assistant provost of the Common Academic Program at the University of Dayton. Her research has appeared in Administration & Society, Administrative Theory & Praxis, Journal of Political Science Education, Journal of Environmental Studies & Sciences, Journal of Public Affairs Education, Policy Studies Journal, PS: Political Science & Politics, Public Voices, and the Review of Policy Research, among others. She is the author of Civil Servants on the Silver Screen: Hollywood's Depiction of Government and Bureaucrats; coauthor of The Lilliputians of Environmental Regulation: The Perspective of State Regulators and U.S. Environmental Policy in Action: Practice & Implementation (now in its second edition), both with Sara Rinfret; and coeditor of Administering the U.S. Food System: Revisiting Food Policy and Politics. She is the recipient of the University of Dayton's Alumni Award for Faculty Teaching in 2016. She holds a PhD in public administration and an MPA from Virginia Tech. She earned a BA in economics, political science, and public administration from Elon University.
Content
List of Figures and Tables
Preface
Acknowledgments
About The Authors
Section I: Defining Us Public Policymaking
Chapter 1: The Foundation
Public Policy and our Everyday Lives
Starting with a Definition
The Process
A Motley Crew: Institutional and Noninstitutional Actors
Policy Analysis
Why Studying Public Policy Matters
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Chapter 2: The Policy Process and Policy Theories
Policy Rhetoric and Reality
What Really is Policy?
Understanding the Context of Public Policy
The Quest for Public Policy Theory
The Stages Heuristic Model of Public Policymaking
Alternative Policy Process Models
Actors in the Policy Process
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Section II: The Practice of Public Policy
Chapter 3: Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations
Up in Smoke: Federal and State Marijuana Policies Collide
Overview of Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations
Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations Evolve
Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations Today
Enduring Virtues of a Federal System
Everyday Citizen Connection
Discovery Question
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Chapter 4: Rulemaking and Regulations
737 Max Airplanes and E-Cigarettes
Understanding the Context of US Regulations
Understanding Regulatory Processes
Influence and Participation
After a Rule Becomes a Law
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Future of Regulatory Policy
Everyday Citizen Connection
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Section III: Understanding Key Public Policy Issues
Chapter 5: Economic Policy and Government Budgeting
Federal Government Shutdowns: What are the Costs?
Overview of Economic Policy and Government Budgeting
Size and Scope of the US Economy
The Federal Budget
History and Development of Economic Policy
Major Economic Policy and Budgeting Statutes
Major Actors in Economic Policy
Issues and Challenges
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Chapter 6: Crime and Public Policy
Guns on College Campuses and Schools
Overview of Crime in America
History and Development
Actors in Criminal Justice Policyq
Major US Criminal Justice and Crime Policy Statutes
Issues and Challenges
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Chapter 7: Education Policy
Behind the Curtain of a Public Education
Overview of US Education Policy
History and Development of the US Education System
Major Education Policy Statutes
Major Actors in US Education Policy
State Actors and Vested Interests
Issues and Challenges
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Chapter 8: Civil Rights And Immigration Policy
Campus Protests & Deportation
Overview of Immigration Policy
History and Development of US Immigration Policy
Major US Immigration Policy Statutes
The Actors in Immigration Policy
Unofficial Actors in Immigration Policy
Issues and Challenges
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Chapter 9: Social Welfare and Health-Care Policy
Living on $2 a Day
Overview of Social Welfare Policy
History and Development of US Social Welfare Policy
Overview of Health-Care Policy
History and Development of US Health-Care Policy
Major US Social Welfare and Health-Care Statutes
Major Actors in Social Welfare and Health-Care Policy
Issues and Challenges
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Chapter 10: Environmental and Energy Policy
A Web of Actors and Apocalyptic Los Angeles Area Wildfires
Overview of Environmental and Energy Policy
History and Development of Environmental Policy
Birth of the Modern Environmental Movement in the 1960s and 1970s
Understanding US Energy Policy
History and Development of Energy Policy
Major Environmental and Energy Policy Statutes
Major Actors in Environmental and Energy Policy
Issues and Challenges
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Conclusion
Glossary
References
Index
Preface
Acknowledgments
About The Authors
Section I: Defining Us Public Policymaking
Chapter 1: The Foundation
Public Policy and our Everyday Lives
Starting with a Definition
The Process
A Motley Crew: Institutional and Noninstitutional Actors
Policy Analysis
Why Studying Public Policy Matters
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Chapter 2: The Policy Process and Policy Theories
Policy Rhetoric and Reality
What Really is Policy?
Understanding the Context of Public Policy
The Quest for Public Policy Theory
The Stages Heuristic Model of Public Policymaking
Alternative Policy Process Models
Actors in the Policy Process
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Section II: The Practice of Public Policy
Chapter 3: Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations
Up in Smoke: Federal and State Marijuana Policies Collide
Overview of Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations
Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations Evolve
Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations Today
Enduring Virtues of a Federal System
Everyday Citizen Connection
Discovery Question
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Chapter 4: Rulemaking and Regulations
737 Max Airplanes and E-Cigarettes
Understanding the Context of US Regulations
Understanding Regulatory Processes
Influence and Participation
After a Rule Becomes a Law
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Future of Regulatory Policy
Everyday Citizen Connection
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Section III: Understanding Key Public Policy Issues
Chapter 5: Economic Policy and Government Budgeting
Federal Government Shutdowns: What are the Costs?
Overview of Economic Policy and Government Budgeting
Size and Scope of the US Economy
The Federal Budget
History and Development of Economic Policy
Major Economic Policy and Budgeting Statutes
Major Actors in Economic Policy
Issues and Challenges
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Chapter 6: Crime and Public Policy
Guns on College Campuses and Schools
Overview of Crime in America
History and Development
Actors in Criminal Justice Policyq
Major US Criminal Justice and Crime Policy Statutes
Issues and Challenges
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Chapter 7: Education Policy
Behind the Curtain of a Public Education
Overview of US Education Policy
History and Development of the US Education System
Major Education Policy Statutes
Major Actors in US Education Policy
State Actors and Vested Interests
Issues and Challenges
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Chapter 8: Civil Rights And Immigration Policy
Campus Protests & Deportation
Overview of Immigration Policy
History and Development of US Immigration Policy
Major US Immigration Policy Statutes
The Actors in Immigration Policy
Unofficial Actors in Immigration Policy
Issues and Challenges
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Chapter 9: Social Welfare and Health-Care Policy
Living on $2 a Day
Overview of Social Welfare Policy
History and Development of US Social Welfare Policy
Overview of Health-Care Policy
History and Development of US Health-Care Policy
Major US Social Welfare and Health-Care Statutes
Major Actors in Social Welfare and Health-Care Policy
Issues and Challenges
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Chapter 10: Environmental and Energy Policy
A Web of Actors and Apocalyptic Los Angeles Area Wildfires
Overview of Environmental and Energy Policy
History and Development of Environmental Policy
Birth of the Modern Environmental Movement in the 1960s and 1970s
Understanding US Energy Policy
History and Development of Energy Policy
Major Environmental and Energy Policy Statutes
Major Actors in Environmental and Energy Policy
Issues and Challenges
Concluding Thoughts
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Suggested Resources
Conclusion
Glossary
References
Index