474 



Many political forces and elements are germane to the negotiations 

 that lead to the final structuring of the decision into yes-or-no form, 

 and to the decision itself. The question examined in this study is the 

 process by which the Congress obtains and uses the scientific and 

 technological information and advice it needs from the scientific com- 

 munity in order to structure and then decide the yes-or-no issue. 



A number of variables influence the decision process. Some of these 

 are: the way the issue arose (and whether it was a routine matter or 

 a "sensational" public issue), how the issue came to Congress, the 

 availability of reliable information about it and how the information 

 was used, the point in the system at which the decision was rendered, 

 and what form the decision took. It is also of interest to observe how 

 the decision was implemented and what the later consequences were. 

 All of these variables are identified in the cases considered. 



In making decisions on political issues, the Congress (and its com- 

 mittees) can take action in a wide variety of ways. It can enact legis- 

 lation, create an agency, establish regulations, specify a policy, 

 appropriate funds for a purpose, make funds available to States and 

 municipalities, call for reports, arrange for interagency coordination, 

 recommend future action, require that a subject be studied, provide 

 advice, bring about an internal review by an agency of its organization 

 and procedures, cause a reassessment of a program, make some 

 official of Government responsible for a decision, or withhold action 

 altogether. 



The kinds of infoTmation required for decisionmaking 



In the congressional decision process three kinds of information 

 are needed. These are ( 1 ) information to enable a decision as to whether 

 to accept the problem into the decisionmaking system; (2) informa- 

 tion on how to prepare to structure the problem into an issue: and 

 (3) information bearing on how to structure and then to decide the 

 issue. Examples of the kinds of questions to elicit these three classes 

 of information are as follows : 



1. Acceptance of a frohlem for decisionmaking. — The questions are : 



"WTiat is the problem ? 



Can congressional action help to solve it ? 



Is it important enough for the Congress to spend time on it? 



Wlio is interested in solving it, or having it solved ? 



Which groups want it solved which ways ? 



Which groups prefer no action be taken to solve it? 



How does the problem relate to other concerns of the Congress? 



How urgent is it to solve the problem ? 



2. Preparation for structuring the prohlem for decision. — The ques- 

 tions are: 



What information is needed to solve the problem? 



Wliere can the needed information be found ? 



How can it be obtained ? 



Wliat are the right questions to elicit the best, complete in- 

 formation ? 



l^^iat is the proper role of the Congress in decisionmaking on 

 the issue? 



Where will the decision ultimately be rendered? 



What form is the decision most likely to take ? 



