Final answer:
The second part of the first stage of the policymaking process is best described as getting an issue on the political agenda to be addressed by Congress, and therefore, the correct option is (a).
Step-by-step explanation:
The second part of the first stage of the policymaking process is associated with getting an issue on the political agenda to be addressed by Congress. This involves not only identifying the issues that merit discussion, known as problem identification, but also alternative specification. The ability to frame an issue compellingly so that it resonates with the needs and attention of the government and the public is crucial. Agenda setting is just the preliminary step that precedes the actual creation, debate, and enactment of proposed legislation.
Policy enactment, the second phase, is typically when a specific solution to a problem is considered by the elected branches of government and a decision is made about whether to pass it. Despite the apparent visibility of this stage, by the time it arrives for a 'yes/no' vote, the passage of the policy proposal often seems predictable.
In summary, the best description for the second part of the first stage of the policymaking process is that it involves getting an issue on the political agenda to be addressed by Congress, which entails raising the issue's importance and facilitating discussions for potential policy solutions. Hence, the correct option is (a).