Government policy is the broad range of laws, enactments, and decisions that govern human activity. These policies help address issues in society and enhance social well-being. Government policy is also the process of identifying and solving societal problems through the allocation of resources, the regulation of behavior, and the formulation of goals.
There are many different kinds of government policies, including the distribution of resources and benefits, such as increasing the minimum wage. Other kinds of policies focus on addressing specific issues, such as hospital accreditation or zoning rules. There are also policies aimed at addressing global issues, such as international trade agreements or international peace and security. The purpose of policy is to guide and influence human actions through a framework of values, beliefs, and practices.
Public policy is the formal and informal aspect of government decision making. Formal public policy includes laws, regulations, and budget allocations that shape the framework and powers of governmental institutions. Informal policy includes unwritten norms and traditions that affect human actions. Both types of policy can be influenced by socio-political and other factors beyond the control of government institutions.
The way in which policies are made has changed significantly in recent decades. A once-simple process in which a central government of a nation state was the sole source of policies has evolved into a governance literature that characterizes the gradual hollowing out of the core of the nation state (Rhodes, 1997). Today, government is one of many actors involved in the policymaking process.