actorsgovernment

Actors in government are the individuals and organizations that influence how public policy is made, implemented, and evaluated. They operate within formal state structures and in the broader political environment, including civil society and the market. Broadly, actors can be categorized as state actors and non-state actors.

State actors include constitutional institutions and public agencies: the legislature, the executive (president, prime minister, and cabinet), the judiciary, and the public administration and regulatory bodies. Security and law-enforcement agencies may also be considered state actors when involved in governance.

Non-state actors encompass political parties, interest groups, social movements, think tanks, media organizations, and non-governmental organizations. Economic actors such as corporations and labor unions, as well as international organizations and transnational networks, also influence government policy and practice.

Key roles of actors in government include agenda setting, policy formulation, decision making, policy implementation, and oversight. They interact through formal channels—legislation, regulation, budgeting, and procurement—and through informal networks and bargaining. The balance of influence among actors varies by country, regime type, and issue area.

Scholars study actors using approaches such as stakeholder analysis, policy-network analysis, and institutional theory. Debates in political science examine how power is distributed among actors, how institutions facilitate or constrain action, and how interest groups and the public mobilize to shape policy outcomes.