CHAPTER 1: WHY THE POLICYMAKING PROCESS MATTERS
Situating the Tools, Techniques and Processes in the Existing Literature
Promoting Presidential Leadership and Management through the Policymaking Process
The Importance of Procedural Legitimacy in Building Policy Support
PART I. THE POLICYMAKERS
CHAPTER 2: THE WHITE HOUSE POLICY COUNCILS
The Policy Councils and the Structure of The Executive Branch
How the Policy Councils Operate and Why They Are Important
The White House Policy Councils
Key Agencies Within the Executive Office of the President
CHAPTER 3: THE WHITE HOUSE STAFF
Working on the White House Staff
Other Key Players in the White House
Interaction with the Media
CHAPTER 4: AGENCIES AND POLICY IMPLEMENTATION
Executive Agencies and Departments and Executive Branch Policymaking
Implementing Policy Decisions
CHAPTER 5: POLICY MANAGEMENT
Policy Management and Procedural Legitimacy
Models of Policy Management
Policy Czars and War Rooms
PART II. TOOLS OF THE TRADE
CHAPTER 6: POLICYMAKING MEMORANDA
The Role of the Memorandum
The Decision-making Memorandum
The Information Memorandum
CHAPTER 7: THE STATE OF THE UNION AND THE BUDGET PROCESS
Timing Your Swing: Understanding Internal Workflows in the Executive Branch
CHAPTER 8: POLICY IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS
Recommending the Right Policy Tool
CHAPTER 9: LEGISLATIVE CLEARANCE AND COORDINATION: SAPS, LRMS, AND OTHER POLICY ACRONYMS
Legislative Clearance and Coordination
Legislative Responsibility in the Executive Branch
Clearance of Agency Testimony and Reports on Pending Legislation
CHAPTER 10: POLLING AND THE POLICYMAKING PROCESS
Polling and Policymaking: Myths and Realities
Rebuttals to Common Criticisms
Who Polls for the White House?
CHAPTER 11: COMMUNICATING AND MARKETING POLICY
The Importance of Communicating and Marketing Policy
PART III. CASE STUDIES
CHAPTER 12: SOCIAL POLICYMAKING: WELFARE REFORM DURING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION
Welfare Reform and the Political Process
The Early Phase: Decentralization, Debate, and Deadlock
Phase II: Action, Response, and Resolution
Conclusion: Making the Process Work
CHAPTER 13: ECONOMIC POLICYMAKING I: THE CLINTON ECONOMIC PLAN
The Economic Plan and the Political Process
Phase I: The Economic Plan and the NEC
Establishing the Management Role of the NEC
Communicating and Marketing the Economic Plan
Securing Passage of the Bill
Conclusion and Lessons Learned
CHAPTER 14: ECONOMIC POLICYMAKING II: THE SIMPSON-BOWLES COMMISSION UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA
Using the Process to Overcome a Stacked Deck
Representative Membership
Assigning Accountability and Putting Issues on the Table
Conclusions and Lessons for the Policymaking Process
CHAPTER 15: SECURITY POLICYMAKING I: DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM UNDER GEORGE H. W. BUSH
Security Crises and the Political Process
Containment and the Decision to Double U.S. Ground Forces
CHAPTER 16: SECURITY POLICYMAKING II: THE SURGE AND IRAQ WAR UNDER GEORGE W. BUSH
The Unpredictability of Being an Honest Broker
Sparking Debate and Incubating Ideas
Promoting the President’s Agenda
PART IV. SCENARIOS
CHAPTER 17: PRACTICE SCENARIOS
GLOSSARY
INDEX