Final answer:
Agenda setting is the first crucial stage in the public policy process, involving problem identification and alternative specification, where advocates must compellingly frame issues to elevate them on the governmental agenda, as seen with health care reform.
Step-by-step explanation:
Agenda setting refers to the crucial first stage in the public policy process where potential policy issues are identified and considered for government action. It encompasses two subphases: problem identification, where issues are detected and highlighted, and alternative specification, where possible solutions to the identified issues are developed and debated. During the agenda setting stage, it is essential for policy advocates to effectively frame the issue to capture governmental and public attention, as many problems compete for limited resources and not all can be addressed at once. A compelling case can elevate a problem to the policy agenda, as has been seen with health care reform, which gained prominence by focusing on the lack of health insurance for many citizens.
The policy process includes four stages: agenda setting, policy enactment, policy implementation, and evaluation. Moving a policy through these stages can be challenging due to the existing array of issues being handled by the government (the continuing agenda) and new proposals emerging constantly.
Following agenda setting, the policy enactment phase takes place, where the elective branches of government consider a specific solution to the identified problem. This stage is the most public, attracting considerable press coverage, and often, by the time a proposal reaches the enactment stage for a yes/no decision, its passage is nearly assured.