Chapter 1

Students of public policy have developed several different dimensions across which various policies can be classified. Examples of these classification schemes include material or symbolic policies and substantive or procedural policies. These classifications can help those who study public policy because they can serve as heuristics (shortcuts) for the purpose of the policy. For example, if a policy is classified as symbolic, then scholars can assume that there is very little real material benefit for people under the policy. The groups of classifications are not exclusive; that is, one can find a regulatory policy that is both symbolic and procedural.

With the different classificatory schemes in mind, examine two different policies from the Department of Health and Human Services. After examining each policy, try to classify the policy according to each of the following dimensions: substantive or procedural; distributive, regulatory, self-regulatory, or redistributive; material or symbolic; and collective or private goods. What was it about the policy that caused you to classify it in the manner that you did? As you decided on a classification, could you envision another researcher placing the policy in a different category?

US Department of Health and Human Services http://www.hhs.gov/policies/index.shtml - The website for the Department of Health and Human Services offers a concise grouping of pertinent policies that apply to agencies and groups under its jurisdiction. Some of these policies are based on legislation while others are agency rules.