What is the initial step in the policy-making process?

The initial step in the policy-making process is agenda-setting. This phase involves identifying issues that require government attention and prioritizing them for discussion. During agenda-setting, various stakeholders, including the public, interest groups, and policymakers, engage in discussions to determine which topics should be addressed in the policy sphere.

This step is critical because it shapes the direction of policy development; it determines which problems receive consideration and resources. Without proper agenda-setting, even the most well-formulated policies may not come to fruition, as they would lack recognition and support within the public and political spheres.

Subsequent steps, such as policy formulation, evaluation, and adoption, build upon the foundation established during agenda-setting. In these later stages, specific proposals are developed, assessed for their effectiveness, and ultimately decided upon, but they all rely on the initial identification of issues that warrant attention through the agenda-setting process.