Political
Science 4340-01
Formulation of
Public Policy
Fall Semester
2002
Instructor: Dr. James L. True Office: Maes, Room O-86
Time: TTh 09:30-10:45 Phone:
880-8813
Room: Maes, Room 103 Office Hours: MWTh 2:00-4:00
E-mail: truejl@hal.lamar.edu
and by appointment
Overview: Political Science 4340 is
designed to encourage you to think critically about government policies and
policymaking in the United States. The course will focus on national
institutional influences, various approaches to understanding policymaking,
policy processes, and U.S. policy issues. It will include theories of
policymaking as well as brief studies of government policies on health care,
the economy, national security, and a variety of current policy issues.
Handouts will be provided for some of the assigned reading, and the following
three texts are required:
James E. Anderson, Public Policymaking: An Introduction,
Fourth Edition (2000);
Frank R. Baumgartner and Bryan D.
Jones, ed. Policy Dynamics (2002);
Lance T. LeLoup and Steven A. Shull, The President and Congress (1999).
Class Participation and
Discussion:
Class participation is important to active learning, and it is important that
upper division classes provide formal and informal opportunities for each
student to participate in class discussions. This class will begin largely with
faculty lectures and faculty-led discussions, but there will be daily
opportunities for questions. And, before the semester is over, students will be
required to lead specific class discussions. Your ability to think critically
about policy topics can be improved by reading the assignments, reflecting upon
them, listening, talking, and writing about them. Some class time will be
scheduled to review, clarify, and expand on topics raised by the students based
on their reading, research, and class lectures.
Research Paper: A 10- to 12-page research
paper is required of each student. A prospectus or preview of your paper is
due, Tuesday, October 15, 2002. The prospectus will consist of one or two
paragraphs giving the tentative title of the paper, the policy problem you have
selected, and anticipated main point(s). In the research paper itself, you will
analyze an U.S. public policy issue, examine alternative solutions, and
recommend a policy to be adopted. The format of the paper will be that of a
draft policy position paper for a legislator and administrator. More
information on this paper will be provided separately. You are encouraged to
work early and often on your paper and to discuss it with other political
science professors or me. To receive full credit, the paper itself must be
turned in by 4:00 p.m., Thursday, November 21, 2002. Papers may be handed in
early.
Examinations: There will be two written
examinations during the semester: a one-hour mid-term exam on October 24, 2002,
and a comprehensive final exam on December 10, 2002. These are essay exams and
will consist of term definitions, short answers of one or two paragraphs, and a
longer essay answer. Examination questions will be drawn from assigned
readings, from lectures, and from class discussions.
Grading: Grades will be calculated
according to the following formula (no extra credit work will be assigned or
accepted):
Class
participation 7% Student-led
Discussion 8%
Mid-term
exam 25% Research paper 27%
Final
examination 33%
TOTAL
100%
Important Dates:
August 22 Last
day for schedule changes
September 6 Last
day to drop (not withdraw) with refund
September Library/Internet
Research Assignment
October 2 Last
day to drop or withdraw without academic penalty
October 10 No
Class – work on research paper
October 15 Turn
in Research Paper Prospectus
October 24 Mid-term
Examination
November 21 Turn
in Research Paper
November 28-29 No
Class – Thanksgiving
December 3 No
Class – Final Exam Study Day
December 10 Final examination (8:00 a.m. - 10:30 p. m.)
|
|
|
POLICYMAKING
PARTICIPANTS AND INSTITUTIONS |
|
|
1. |
August
22 Th |
Course
Introduction |
No
reading assignment |
|
2. |
August
27 T |
U.S.
Policymaking History and Institutions |
LeLoup
and Shull (L&S), pp. 34-59. |
|
3. |
August
29 Th |
Participants,
Environment, and Levels of Policymaking |
Anderson,
pp. 39-80. |
|
|
|
APPROACHES TO STUDYING PUBLIC POLICYMAKING |
|
|
4. |
September 3 T |
Traditional,
Typological, and Stages Approaches to Studying Policymaking |
Anderson,
pp. 1-34. |
|
5. |
September
5 Th |
Leadership
Patterns Approach |
L&S,
1-30. |
|
6. |
September
10 T |
Multiple
Streams Approach |
Handout |
|
7. |
September
12 Th |
Stability
and Change Approach |
Baumgartner
and Jones (B&J), pp. 1-28 |
|
8. |
September
17 T |
Presidency
and Policymaking |
L&S,
pp. 62-85. |
|
9. |
September
19 Th |
Congress
and Policymaking |
L&S,
pp. 89-114. |
|
10. |
September
24 T |
Evolving
Issues & Institutions in Congress |
B&J,
pp. 185-204. |
|
11. |
September
26 Th |
Problems,
Agendas, and Formulating Policies |
Anderson,
pp. 85-117. |
|
12. |
October
1 T |
Deciding
and Adopting |
Anderson,
pp. 127-159. |
|
13. |
October
3 Th |
Policy
Implementation |
Anderson,
pp. 201-223. |
|
14. |
October
8 T |
Administering
Policy |
Anderson
pp. 223-253 |
|
15. |
October
10 Th |
Work
on Research Paper. |
B&J,
pp. 29-46. |
|
16. |
October
15 T |
Public
Budgeting |
Anderson,
pp. 163-196. Turn
in Research Prospectus. |
|
17. |
October
17 Th |
Economic
and Budget Policy* |
L&S,
pp. 174-202. |
|
18. |
October
22 T |
Budgets
and Agendas in the U.S.* |
Handout |
|
|
|
|
|
|
19. |
October
24 Th |
Mid-term Examination |
Bring
Bluebook |
|
|
|
POLICIES AND
POLICYMAKING
|
|
|
20. |
October
29 T |
Health
Policy Reform and FMLA* |
Anderson,
pp. 117-121 And
handout. |
|
21. |
October
31 Th |
Comprehensive
Health Care Reform* |
B&J,
pp. 96-122. |
|
22. |
November
5 T |
Catastrophic
Health Coverage* |
L&S,
pp. 223-227 And
B&J, pp. 250-269. |
|
23. |
November
7 Th |
Foreign
Policy* |
L&S,
pp. 117-144. |
|
24. |
November
12 T |
National
Security Policy* |
B&J,
pp. 155-181. |
|
25. |
November
14 Th |
Telecommunications,
Immigration, or Science & Technology Policy* |
B&J,
Chapter 3, 4, or 6. (To
be decided) |
|
26. |
November
19 T |
Gun
Rights & Gun Control Policy* |
Handout |
|
27. |
November
21 Th |
Policy
Impacts & Research Paper Discussions |
Anderson,
pp. 261-270; Turn
in research paper. |
|
28. |
November
26 T |
Policy
Evaluation and the Head Start Program* |
Anderson,
pp. 270-303. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December
10 Th, 8:00-10:30 |
Final Examination |
Bring
bluebook(s) |
* -
Student-led discussion.