s that have caused a re-evaluation of Political Analysis continue to cultivate. Chapter 2 of the text speaks of these at great length and they are: Goverence is changing, globalization, Information Technologies, diverse societies; smaller governments that do less and allow the markets to dictate and global systems; and, the discipline field itself, was a postwar phenomenon that today appears as a weapon in the struggle for political advantage and the public questions the result of many policies. (pg x, Pal) To clarify, Public Policy, as defined by Pal, is a course of action chosen by public aut!
             horities to address a given problem or inter-related set of problems. Whereas, Thomas Dye (1984, p.1-as quoted in Pal p.4) calls it "whatever government chooses to do or not to do", Howards Lasswall (1951 p.5) calls it "the most important choices". The several definitions sited here all have choices as their key element. The Rational Decision-Making Model of is the model that must be used, even if generally, for each problem/choice before a response can be articulated to respond to that problem. "Policy or strategy is formulated consciously, preferably analytically and made explicit, and then implemented formally". (Mintzberg & Jorgensen, 1987, p.219) (Pal, p. 4.)
             The Rational Decision-Making Model is a seven step model of decision making that is meant as a standard to allow decision makers to think logically and rationally when forming a decision, and in this case public policy. It is built on many assumptions. Several being: problems and objectives are clear, people agree on
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