Reference no: EM132186083

Legislative policy is expressed in speeches and press releases by the leadership and formulated in policy and appropriation bills. Amidei, (2002) suggests that it is not generally recognized that budgets, expressed in appropriation acts and taxes, are critical statements of social policy. Budgets distribute resources and determine what government can and cannot do. Jackson-Elmoore, 2005. Taxes may favor property versus income, businesses versus consumers, or production versus consumption. They may or may not provide stable resources for governmental services, Gladwell, M. (2000). Policy can also be found in the determinations and decisions of state department heads and middle management. Their decisions or actions determine how legislative policy and broad governmental mandates are actually translated into services. Amidei, (2002) Policy is reflected in strategic plans and policy memoranda. It is translated and carried out through rules and regulations, manuals, requests for proposals, contractual agreements, enforcement actions, and so forth.

At the local level, county commissioners and township supervisors, school boards and superintendents, and local governmental agencies make policy within the confines of state law and other state formulations, Jackson-Elmoore, 2005. Chief executives of cities and city councils operate according to state law and city charters. The directors of local governmental agencies operate within a state and county framework. Thus, Tableman, 2005 suggests that there is a policy hierarchy ranging from the broad statement of mission or purpose in the constitution, or “here is what we propose to do” as expressed in law, down to the more explicit “here is what that means when we carry it out” as defined in departmental documents. How do citizens with a burning issue impact policy?