Government policy refers to the set of laws, regulatory measures, courses of action and funding priorities promulgated by a governing entity. It can be local, regional, national, or international in scope. Government policies are a central aspect of how society functions and are crucial for the long-term stability of societies.
Politicians, economists, social scientists, and other scholars have a lot of varying ideas about what public policy is. Some view it as a domain that is distinct from politics (although it is deeply intertwined with it). Others see policy as the civil service domain that takes political ideas and converts them into systems capable of being implemented in the field. This article uses the latter definition of policy.
The development of government policies is complex and involves multiple stakeholders and factors. Some of these include societal demands, the political context, the economy, and moral/ethical considerations. Effective government policies can spur societal change and foster civic engagement, while ineffective ones can undermine trust in political institutions and lead to more robust protests and social movements seeking policy change.
Some examples of government policies include minimum wage laws, workplace safety standards, anti-discrimination laws, banking regulations, stock market oversight, and drug approval and safety regulations. A key aspect in the formulation of policy is agenda setting where interest groups, politicians, and other stakeholders collaborate to identify issues that require government attention. Other factors in policy making include a political party’s ideological beliefs and how those ideologies shape laws, resource allocation, and the execution of policies.