Political Science

A policy is defined as something that would be followed by all who willingly subscribe to it.  A policy helps define the direction of a company on a smaller scale or a country on a larger scale. Furthermore, a policy, before it can become binding and legitimate, must first gain the consent of all those concerned.  In government, the top policy makers are those in the highest levels of government, particularly in the executive and legislative branches.

Traditionally, it is the legislative branch that writes the laws or policies of the country.  One must wonder how they do it.  Legislators, whether they are called congressmen, senators, assemblymen, or members of parliament, propose laws by sponsoring a bill. After enough deliberation and debate, and provided all goes well, the bill goes through the proper channels from lower house to upper house where the merits are discussed. When the bill is approved, it is submitted to the head of government of the executive branch who signs it into law which makes it official and binding to all. This is how laws or policies are made through the perspective of the legislative branch (Heineman, 1996).

However, this is only half of the process. One must wonder how did the legislator come up with the idea of proposing such a law in the first place. Most people would think it is the legislator and his staff who come up with these policies on their own and they have everything figured out and know what is in the best interests of the people whom they represent. But again, this is also half of the process. In a (representative) democracy, the role of the legislator is to represent the interests of their constituents.

For instance, if a particular law needs to be written on an issue such as business piracy, concerned citizens simply write or call their legislator or even visit him or her in their offices. The latter part is called lobbying as transactions are conducted in the lobby of the solons office. There are more powerful groups such as interest or pressure groups who can also do the same thing in influencing the lawmakers agenda as well.  Some of them will even go far as to resort to bribery to do this in exchange for these political favors (Heineman, 1996 Bealey, Chapman,  Sheehan, 1999).

Going back to the deliberation in the  floor,  a legislators support or opposition to a proposed bill can stem from either his or her own thinking or pressure coming even from his or her own peers in the chamber. It is not uncommon for solons to engage in  horsetrade  or parlaying to help win support to a bill they are proposing, and the ones that could give a very convinicing argument are sure to win enough votes to get their bill endorsed and eventually passed such as the case of the Health Care Bill (Project Vote Smart, 2008).  It can be inferred that the principal sponsor of the bill has been able to win the support of several of his colleagues in getting the bill passed. Looking at it from another perspective, one possible reason why the other solons would vote for a bill such as this is perhaps it is reasonable enough and they see it is for the good of the country.  Others vote  aye  in deference to the more senior members, especially if they are the sponsors of the bill as part of keeping order in the house and minimize filibustering. Others who do not vote whether in affirmative or negative, abstain due to uncertainty or out of protest (Bealey, Chapman,  Sheehan, 1999).

In conclusion, these are the scenes that take place behind the halls of power when it comes to policy-making. There are times when ones representative is truly representing him or her by pursuing the same cause. There will be times when solons will jump the proverbial bandwagon to support a bill by his or her peers because they agree with its essence and partly out of deference as well.