Discussion Questions

1. Identify and define the eight forms of organization that make up the institutions and agencies of the federal government. Provide at least one example of each form of organization.

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages in the redundancy of organizations built into the federal bureaucratic structure?

3. Discuss how the process of drafting legislation has significant ramifications for the eventual success or failure of program implementation.

4. Identify the concept of interest group liberalism. Why is this concept important in understanding policy implementation?

5. What are Hood’s five characteristics of “perfect” administration? How does the failure to achieve or maintain these characteristics influence the policy implementation process?

6. Describe the various impacts of vertically and horizontally oriented policy implementation structures on the policy implementation process.