ABSTRACT
Whatever the level of decision making, the policymaking process can be filled with tension, drama, and uncertainty. Whether it is city officials debating the construction of a new recreation center or Congress deciding what to do about a proposed tax cut, the air often gets pretty heavy just before the decision-making moment. Because disputes are usually over resources or values, policymakers are left with the unenviable task of attempting to resolve those differences. That’s why they are in positions of authority. And it is the drama of the fight that often draws so much attention.
