Course Professor Term Meetings

PSCI 3325, American Public Policy Robert Lowry Fall 2011 Tuesday and Thursday 1-2:15 pm, SOM 2.106

Professors Contact Information Office Phone 972-883-6720 Office Location Green Hall 3.533 Email Address robert.lowry@utdallas.edu Office Hours Monday 5:30-6:45; Tuesday 2:30-4; or by appointment. Teaching Assistant:
Office Phone Office Location Email Address Office Hours

Kaitlin Nelson TBA TBA Ktn051000@utdallas.edu TBA Maureen Stobb TBA TBA Mts103020@utdallas.edu TBA

Teaching Assistant:
Office Phone Office Location Email Address Office Hours

General Course Information

Prerequisites

GOVT 2301 and 2302 or permission from the instructor.

This course examines the making of public policy in the United States. The course begins with an overview of the constitutional foundations of the U.S. political system and proceeds to a discussion of the public policy Course Description process, examining the stages of policymaking and theories of the policy process. These theories are discussed in the context of specific public policies and public policy controversies, including social welfare, defense, tax policy, and other important issues. Upon completing this course, students will be able to: Identify the justification for government action on public policy issues, and analyze the importance of major governmental institutions and processes. Analyze the politics of public policy decision making and the pros and cons of different policy options. Apply their understanding and analysis to a specific contemporary policy issue.

Learning Objectives/Outcomes

Students will also develop written communication skills through an

2 iterative process in which students submit drafts of three parts of a term paper and then revise and resubmit the entire paper. The following book is available in the bookstore and should be purchased: B. Guy Peters, American Public Policy: Promise and Performance. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 8th ed. 2010.
Required Texts & Materials

Other required readings are listed at the end of the syllabus and referenced by number in the course schedule below. Additional readings relating to specific policy areas may be added to the syllabus. These will be announced in class and on eLearning.

Assignments & Academic Calendar

Date Topic(s) I. Overview of Policy Making, Implementation, and Analysis Course Introduction What is public policy? Democratic Governance and Public Policy Writing research memos Policymaking in American Government Current Issues in Federalism Explaining policy choices Agenda setting and public policy Legitimating policy choices Policy Implementation Budgeting Program evaluation and policy change Cost-benefit and ethical analysis Review MIDTERM EXAM II. Substantive Policy Issues Macroeconomic policy The national debt Federal Tax Policy Income inequality Health Care Policies Health insurance reform Social Security and Welfare Immigration Education Policy Energy and the Environment In pursuit of clean energy Defense and Law Enforcement NO CLASS - THANKSGIVING Assignment*

Aug. 25 Aug. 30 Sept. 1 Sept. 6 Sept. 8 Sept. 13 Sept. 15 Sept. 20 Sept. 22 Sept. 27 Sept. 29 Oct. 4 Oct. 6 Oct. 11 Oct. 13 Oct. 18 Oct. 20 Oct. 25 Oct. 27 Nov. 1 Nov. 3 Nov. 8 Nov. 10 Nov. 15 Nov. 17 Nov. 22 Nov. 24

Peters chap. 1, [1]

Peters chap. 2 [2] Peters chap. 3 RESEARCH TOPICS DUE Peters chap. 4 Peters chap. 5 Peters chap. 6 Peters chap. 7 Peters chap. 8 Peters chap. 17

Peters, chap. 9 [3] DRAFT OF FIRST MEMO DUE Peters, chap. 10 [4] Peters, chap. 11 [5] Peters, chap. 12 [6] Peters, chap. 13 Peters, chap. 14 DRAFT OF SECOND MEMO DUE [7] Peters, chap. 15

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Nov. 29 Dec. 1 Dec. 6 Dec. 10 (Saturday) Foreign Aid and National Security Culture wars Review FINAL EXAM 11:00 AM [8] Peters, chap. 16 FINAL MEMOS DUE

* Numbers in brackets refer to the Additional Readings at the end of the syllabus.

Course Policies
This course satisfies the UTD Core Communications requirement. This will be done by writing two memos on a policy controversy related to one of the topics on the syllabus for October 18-December 1. The first memo should address the substantive issues and proposed solutions. The second memo should address the politics of the policy decision. The policy controversy should be one that came to a formal decision (yea or nay) in a federal or state legislature or administrative agency or ballot initiative. See the notes on writing assignments for further details. A statement of your policy controversy is due in class Tuesday, September 13. A draft of the substantive memo is due Tuesday, October 18. A draft of the politics memo is due Tuesday, November 15. You will receive written feedback on both draft memos. Final memos are due in class Tuesday, December 6. Each draft memo must be a minimum of 6 pages double-spaced, 12-point font, plus any tables or graphs and a list of references. The final memos must have a combined length of at least 15 pages, plus tables, graphs and references. Grading Criteria Additional information on writing research memos is posted on eLearning and will be discussed in class Thursday, September 1. There will also be two exams on materials in the readings and class lectures and discussions. Exams will consist of short answer and essay questions. These will be on Tuesday, October 11 and Saturday, December 10 (finals week). Grades will be based on the following criteria: Class participation Midterm exam Final exam Substantive memo draft Final substantive memo Politics memo draft Final politics memo 5% 20 25 15 10 15 10

Note that if you do not hand in one or both draft memos, the corresponding memo(s) you submit at the end of the semester will be treated as final and worth a maximum of 10 % each. Late Work Make-up exams will be given in the event of a documented medical, family or work emergency. No other excuses will be accepted. Unexcused late memos will be penalized 20 % for each day they are late. We will not take regular attendance, but class participation counts for 5 percent of your grade. You are strongly encouraged to attend class and take notes. We will be

Class Attendance

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covering material in class that supplements the assigned readings. This material may be on the exams. In addition, while I will post the outline from each class on eLearning I will not be posting detailed lecture notes, and dont bother asking for them. University Policies Additional UTD policies regarding student conduct and discipline, academic integrity, email use, withdrawing from class, grievance procedures, incomplete grades, disability services, religious holy days, and resources to help you succeed can be found at http://coursebook.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies/.

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.

5 ADDITIONAL READINGS Readings designated as eReserve are posted on the electronic reserve available through the librarys web page. All other readings can be found by searching the librarys collection by journal title and then browsing for the appropriate issue. Additional readings may be added during the semester. If so, they will be announced and links will be posted if necessary on eLearning. [1] Kenneth N. Bickers and John T. Williams, Democratic Governance and Public Policy. In Public Policy Analysis: A Political Economy Approach, 17-34. Houghton Mifflin Company 2001. eReserve [2] Kenneth Jost, States and Federalism. CQ Researcher, Vol. 20, Issue 36 (October 15, 2010). [3] Marcia Clemmitt, National Debt. CQ Researcher Vol. 21, Issue 11 (March 18, 2011).

[4] Marcia Clemmitt, Income Inequality. CQ Researcher, Vol. 20, Issue 42 (December 3, 2010). [5] Marcia Clemmitt, Health-Care Reform. CQ Researcher Vol. 20, Issue 22 (June 11, 2010); updated May 24, 2011. [6] Alan Greenblatt, "Immigration Debate." CQ Researcher Vol. 18, Issue 5 (February 1, 2008); updated December 10, 2010. [7] Jennifer Weeks, Energy Policy. CQ Researcher Vol. 21, Issue 20 (May 20, 2011).

[8] Nellie Bristol, Foreign Aid and National Security. CQ Researcher, Vol. 21, Issue 23 (June 17, 2011).