本书重点阐述了美国行政部门政策过程中所运用到的工具和技术，旨在帮助读者从实践角度理解相关的理论。作者认为，为了培养合格的政策制定者，很有必要让他们理解政策制定中所运用的具体工具和技术——政策制定者支持某一项政策的可能性往往在于产生这项政策的程序的合法性，其作用与该项政策本身的价值同样重要。他们认为，程序合法性反过来又是通过政策开发和政策制定过程中所采用的工具和技术来实现的。本书作者之一小保罗·温斯曾经是克林顿政府时期白宫国内政策委员会的首席委员，他为本书提供了独一无二的“内部人”视角。此外，本书中有大量案例研究、示范性的真实文献和丰富的实践方案，使得本书具有突出的现实性和实用价值。

乔治·E.香博四世，美国哥伦比亚大学政治学博士和政治学硕士、国际事务硕士，奥柏林学院政府与物理学学士。现为乔治城大学政府系和埃德蒙·A.沃尔什外交系国际事务专业的助理教授。

Preface
About the Authors
Acronyms
Chapter 1.Introduction-Why the Policymaking Process Matters Overview of This Book
Situating the Tools,Techniques,and Processes in the Existing Literature
The Importance of Procedural Legitimacy in Building Policy Support
Presidential Management and Procedural Legitimacy
Conclusion
Key Terms
Review Questions
Part I.The Policy Makers
Chapter 2.The Policy Councils
The Policy Councils and the Structure of the Executive Branch
How the Policy Councils Operate and Why They Are Important
Inside the White House Policy Councils
The National Security Council
The National Economic Council
The Domestic Policy Council
The George W.Bush Administration and the NEC and DPC
Key Agencies within the Executive Office of the President
……
Chapter 3.The White House Staff
Chapter 4.Agencies and Policy Implementation
Part II.Tools of the Trade
Chapter 5.Policy-making Memoranda
Chapter 6.Polling and the Policy-making Process
Chapter 7.Legislative Clearance and Coordination:SAPs,LRMs,and Other Policy Acronyms
Chapter 8.Communication and Marketing Policy
Part III.Case Studies
Chapter 9.Welfare Reform during the Clinton Clinton Administration
Chapter 10.The Clinton Economic Plan
……
Part IV.Scenarios