INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC POLICY

Course description:"Public policy is the study of government decisions and actions designed to deal with a matter of public concern."This course will focus on the public policy process in the United States, its patterns and important characteristics.How problems become matters of public concern, and how public policies are formulated, implemented, evaluated and revised are all topics to be addressed.A number of specific policy issues including social security, health care, welfare, taxation, education and homeland security will be explored.

Course objectives: The objectives of this course are:

1.To acquaint students with the field of public policy analysis.

2.To help students better understand the public policy process.

3.To help students become better informed about current issues of public concern and policy alternatives.

Books:There are three required books:

Charles L. Cochran and Eloise F. Malone, Public Policy: Perspectives & Choices, 2^nd edition, Boston: McGraw-Hill College, 1999.

Toni Marzotto, Vicky Moshier Burnor and Gordon Scott Bonham, The Evolution of Public Policy: Cars and the Environment,Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc., 2000.

Issues for Debate in American Public Policy, 3rd edition, Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc., 2003.

Expectations:I expect students to come to class having read the assigned material.From time to time I will e-mail copies of relevant newspaper articles to you.Also I will occasionally hand out materials in class.You are responsible for making sure that you obtain a copy.These materials may be included in exam questions.

Please handle differing opinions with courtesy.

Grading: Grades will be based on three exams and two short papers.Instructions for the papers will be distributed in class.

First exam (based on first part of course) - 20%

Second exam (based on second part of course) - 20%

Final exam (based on entire course, emphasis on third part)- 20%

Each of the papers also will be worth 20%.

Course schedule and reading assignments:

Introduction to Public Policy and Policy Analysis

Readings: C&M, pp. 1-38.

Sept. 4What is public policy?Why study it?

Sept. 6Basic Concepts in Public Policy

The Policy Cycle and Advocacy Coalitions

Readings:M ,B&B, chp. 1, C&M, pp. 39-54

Sept. 9 Policy Stages/ Policy Cycle Model

Sept. 11 Advocacy Coalitions

Readings: M,B&B, chp. 2;and Helen Ingram and Anne Schneider, “Social construction of target populations: implications for politics and policy” American Political Science Review, June 1993 v89 n2 p334.Use Electronic Journals found from library resources web page to print a copy of this article.

Sept. 13 The Politics of Problem Definition

Sept. 16 Agenda Setting

Readings: M,B&B, chp. 4; C&M, chp. 12. Additional reading to be assigned.

Sept. 18 Policy Formulation

Reading: M,B&B, chps, 5&6

Sept. 20, 23 Policy Implementation

Reading: M,B&B, chps. 7&8

Sept. 25 Policy Evaluation and Reformulation

Ideological and Institutional Context of American Public Policy

Readings: C&M, chp. 4

Sept.27 Ideology

Sept.30 Role of Institutions

Oct. 2 Federalism

Oct. 4 Video "The Unelected: Lobbies and the Media"

Oct. 6 Video "The Unelected"remainder and discussion

Oct. 9 Review

October 11 First Exam- Bluebooks will be provided

Education Policy

Readings: C&M, chp.9, Issues for Debate, chps. 1&2

Oct. 14 Funding

Oct. 16 School Choice

Oct. 18 Guest speakers – tentative

Rational Choice Theory and Applications

Reading: C&M, chp. 3

Oct. 21, 23 Rational Choice Theory, Applications, and Critique

Economic and Tax Policy

Reading: C&M, chps. 5&6; Issues for Debate, chps. 13, 14

Oct. 25 Economic Theories and Policy

Oct. 28 Taxes and Tax Policy

Oct. 30 Budgetary Policy

Equity and Equality: Welfare and Social Security

Readings: C&M, chp. 7; Issues for Debate, chps. 6, 7, 12

Nov. 1, 4 Welfare Policy: History and Reform

Nov. 6, 8 Social Security

November 11 Advocacy Coalition Analysis Paper Due in Class

Housing, Urban Decline and Suburban Sprawl

Readings: C&M, chp 11; Issues for Debate, chp. 5

Nov. 11 U.S. Housing Policy and Affordable Housing

Nov. 13 Suburban Sprawl

Nov. 15 Review

November 18 Second Exam - Bluebooks will be provided.

Health Policy

Readings: C&M, chp. 10, Issues for Debate, chps. 3&4

Nov. 20 Video " High Price of Health"

Nov. 22 Controlling Costs, Providing Coverage

Nov. 25 Comparing National Health Policy Systems

Nov. 27 Malpractice Insurance

December 4 Policy Issue Position Paper Due in Class

Foreign Policy, National Security, and Trade Issues

Readings: C&M, chp 13, Issues for Debate, chps. 10, 15, 16

Dec. 2, 4 Homeland Security and the Executive Role in Policy Making

Dec. 6, 9 Global Trade Issues

Conclusions and Review

Dec. 11 Recapitulation and Conclusions

Final Exam – date to be announced. Bluebooks will be provided.