Public policy can be generally defined as the course pf action or inaction taken by a governmental entities with regard to a particular issue or set of " Other scholars define it as a system of "courses of action, regulatory measures, laws, and funding priorities concerning a given topic promulgatey a governmental entity or its repesentatives. In the United States, this concept refers not only to the end result of policies, but more broadly to the decision-making and analysis of governmental decisions. Public policy is also considered an academic discipine, as it is studied by professors and students at pubiic policy suhools of maior universities throughout the country. The professional association of public policy practitioners, researchers, scholars, and students is the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management