The issue emerges as different ideas about what could be done are developed. Public issues are controversial because different groups of people are affected in different ways. An advantage or benefit for some may be a disadvantage or cost for others. For example, the problem may be a community s high rate of illiteracy in adults. The policy options might include reading programs, parent education, or school policies to reduce dropouts.
Public policy consists of statements or principles underlying government action.
Policy is expressed in local, state and federal government action as legislation, resolutions, programs, regulations, appropriations, administrative practices and court decisions. Less formal policy also includes customs and traditional ways of doing things. This text was extracted from the publication, EP94.