Premium
The Role of Public Input in State Welfare Policymaking
Author(s) -
Shaw Greg M.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
policy studies journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1541-0072
pISSN - 0190-292X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1541-0072.2000.tb02058.x
Subject(s) - agency (philosophy) , public administration , variety (cybernetics) , welfare state , state (computer science) , social welfare , welfare reform , welfare , political science , public assistance , social policy , public relations , sociology , law , politics , social science , algorithm , artificial intelligence , computer science
This article reports findings from a survey of 257 state officials involved in public assistance policymaking in the American states during the early to mid‐1990s. Respondents were asked to comment on the impetus for welfare reform, on methods employed to gauge public preferences, and on sources of policy ideas. These officials, including state legislators, social service agency directors, and senior advisors to governors, revealed a variety of forums for gathering public input. Although few respondents affiliated with elective office reported significant direct electoral challenges on welfare issues, they often cited constituent contacts regarding welfare reform.