Models of Policy Formation

In the Readings, supplemental materials, and Seminars, we have emphasized the approaches to examining policy adoption, i.e., policy process frameworks and theories. For example interest group theory suggests that concentrated interests are generally more influential in representative government than diffuse interest. Under this theory, the likelihood of having a proposal or initiative adopted is much greater, the larger and more concentrated the group is. Since President Richard Nixon declared war on drug abuse in 1971, the nation has been spending billions of dollars per year to combat the movement of illicit drugs from Latin America. Recently, several States have legalized the use of marijuana. Using those States (Colorado and Washington) as an example, apply the models of public policy formulation that ultimately led to the passage of the laws.