ABSTRACT
We can agree public policy is important without being certain of the definition.
However, we can describe some important characteristics of public policy. It:
is intentional, designed to achieve a stated or understood purpose
involves decisions, and their consequences
is structured and orderly
is political in nature
is dynamic.
This chapter describes public policy as an authoritative statement by a government about its intentions. It also views public policy as relying on hypotheses about cause and effect, and as structured around objectives or public values.