There are various studies about public policy and many scholars have attempted to
define public policy from different angles. Before explaining the meaning of public
policy, let us first go through some of its definitions.
Robert EyeStone terms public policy as "the relationship of government unit to its
environment. Thomas R. Dye says that "public policy is whatever government
chooses to do or not to do" Richard Rose says that "public policy is not a decision,
it is a course or pattern of activity. In Carl J. Friedrich's opinion public policy is a
proposed course o: action of a person, group or government within a given
environment providing opportunities and obstacles which the policy was proposed
to utilise and overlcome in an effort to reach a goal 01 realise an objective or
purpose.
From these definitions, it is clear that publi: policies are governmental decisions,
and are actually the result of activities which the government undertakes in
pursuance of certain goals and objectives. It can also be said that public policy
formulation and implementation involves a well planned pattern or course of
activity. It requires a thoroughly close knit relation and interaction between the
important governmental agencies viz., the political executive, legislature,
bureaucracy and judiciary.
The following points will make the nature of public policy more clear in your minds:
1) P,ublic Policies are goal oriented. Public policies are formulated and
implemented in order to attain the objectives which the government has in view
for the ultimate benefit of the masses in general. These policies clearly spell out
the programmes of government.
2) Public policy is the outcome of the government's collective actions. It means that
it is a pattern or course of activity or' the governmental officials and actors in a
collective sense than being termzBd as their discrete and segregated decisions.
3) Public policy is what the government actually decides or chooses to do. It is the
relationship of the government units to the specific field of political environment
in a given administrative system. It can take a variety of forms like law,
ordinances, court decisions, executive orders, decisions etc.
4) Public policy is positive in the sense that it depicts the concern of the government
'and involves its action to a particular droblem on which the policy is made. It
has the sanction of law and authority behind it. Negatively, it involves a decisions
by the governmental officials regarding not taking any action on a particular issue.