ACF is one of the most prominent political theories of the policy process, and is frequently applied to questions of environmental policy. Some aspects of ACF are strongly supported by evidence. Information is an important element of policy decisions.
Policies evolve over time.
To fully understand this process, ACF aims to study policy change over periods of a decade or more. A given policy decisions can be shaped by actors from many different institutions. A single policy domain may be influenced by a diverse collection of government officials, interest groups representatives, researchers, journalists, etc. Subsystem dynamics are shaped by the belief systems of the actors involved. ACF examines the behaviors of contesting advocacy coalitions over long periods of time.