A government policy is a course of action to tackle a political problem. It is conceived by public or private groups who formulate strategy with regard to a particular issue, and carried out by government officials who implement policies as concrete programs and actions. Government policies are a crucial element of political life and can significantly influence the trajectory of social movements seeking to bring about change. The long-term impacts of policy changes can also affect the public’s trust in political institutions and their inclination to engage in civic activities.
The process of designing and implementing policies can be complicated, in part because of the complex system nature of the problems they address. Public policy makers often face the challenge of trying to design incentives and constraints that will impact the behavior of different stakeholders without introducing other unintended consequences. The complexity of the systems in which policy is applied can also make it difficult to predict the effects of individual policies, and sometimes even their combined impact.
In addition to the challenges inherent in the complex nature of public policy, modern policymakers must contend with a variety of competing interests and perspectives that can interfere with their efforts to craft effective policies. For example, they must balance the demands of partisan politics with national interests, weigh competing policy objectives against each other, and consider the impacts of policy decisions on various constituencies. They must also work closely with a variety of organizations, from interest groups and lobbying firms to non-profit organizations and varied advocacy coalitions, in order to gather the insights needed to develop practical policy solutions.