Smoking and Politics: Policy Making and the Federal Bureaucracy

This brief companion text considers why government agencies and bureaucracies have become important and how they operate in influencing and even creating public policy. It explores the processes of bureaucratic policy decision making by focusing on a single contemporary issue ― the regulation of cigarette smoking.

“I drew on Smoking and Politics in writing my doctoral dissertation 35 years ago. Now in a thoroughly updated sixth edition, this remarkably successful book dissects a critical public health issue where legislative, regulatory, judicial, and interest group politics intersect. Fritschler and Rudder cut through political pressures and intergovernmental jockeying with clarity and insight, giving particular attention to the often-underestimated role of executive and independent agencies in policy making. “

David Price, Member of Congress, 4th District, North Carolina

“Fritschler and Rudder have done a superb job of weaving together the complexities involved in addressing the number one controllable cause of death in world. They show that good intentions must be supplemented by deep knowledge of political institutions and strategic savvy. This brief volume will be valuable to anyone who wants to understand how policy actually is made.”

            David A. Kessler, M.D.,  former Commissioner, U.S. Food and Drug   Administration, Dean, University of California San Francisco, School of Medicine

“A must read for any student of government, Fritschler and Rudder's new edition  of Smoking and Politics: Bureaucracy Centered Policy Making utilizes the tobacco wars as a format to point out the importance of the bureaucracy to solve critical problems and to provide an alternative law making forum. By utilizing the tobacco wars as the central theme, they make the subject interesting and readable.  The book points out the full panoply of bureaucratic processes including regulation, litigation, rule making, researching, and plain old politicking. Fritschler and Rudder have produced an excellent text for students and non-students alike." 

 Judith P. Wilkenfeld, Vice President, International Department, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids

“Smoking and Politics” has become an American public policy classic, and a case study that is a must read for any scholar or student interested in how public policy is really made in our national government. This 6th edition of the book updates and provides new perspectives on the dynamic interaction of politicians, business interests, and the nation’s professional bureaucracy.”

Charles F. Bonser, Founding Dean and Professor, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University

“Hooray for Fritschler and Rudder!!  This policy making classic keeps getting better--it is an invaluable analysis of the way stalwart bureaucrats and regulators can provide crucial political leadership in this many splendored yet many splintered constitutional system.”

            Thomas E. Cronin, McHugh Professor of  American Institutions and Leadership, Colorado College , author of Government by the People (21st edition, 2005).