Assignment for Monday, 2/4

For Monday, read -- and, if you'd like, summarize -- the "Introduction" to Stone's book (pp. 1-14). Also, please review the table on page 33; this summarizes Stone's conceptions of the "market" and the "polis." We'll discuss all of this next week.

Assignment for Wednesday, 1/30

For Wednesday, read chapter 1 of Birkland's book, "The Study and Practice of Public Policy." If you haven't been able to get the book yet, remember that a copy is available on reserve in the MMC library.

Syllabus

Public Policy Analysis
Spring 2008
Political Science Course # PS 264 01

Course Description

As a subfield of political science, public policy is, in effect, the study of what government does. Other subfields tend to offer a broad survey of political actors, behaviors, and institutions. Public policy takes note of all of these, but focuses more on the “outputs” of government action: the policies themselves. The study of public policy is interdisciplinary and more applied than theoretical (although we will address numerous policy theories), and is noted for its focus on so-called “real world problems.”

But the title of this class, “Public Policy Analysis,” suggests an additional dimension. Many students of public policy are also practitioners. Policy analysis helps them to address the hard questions that policymakers must face every day. Should a government displace a small population in order to build a facility that benefits a larger one? What activities should the government tax? More generally, should policies reflect a concern for equity—being fair to all parties involved—or should policymakers be solely concerned with efficiency? Questions like these capture the normative aspect of policymaking. In this class, therefore, we will take up questions of not just what government does, but what government ought to do.

Required Texts

Students are encouraged to purchase the following books:

An Introduction to the Policy Process
Thomas A. Birkland
2nd Edition (2005)
ISBN: 978075614896

Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Decision Making
Deborah Stone
Revised Edition (2002)
ISBN: 0393976254

These books is available from Shakespeare and Company (939 Lexington Avenue, at 69th Street). In addition, a number of less expensive used copies may be available online. If you purchase online or elsewhere, however, make sure that you obtain the correct edition and that you can get the book in a timely fashion. Copies of both books also will be made available on reserve in the MMC library.

Additional readings may be assigned throughout the semester; these will be available through handouts or online links at the course website. Readings will be assigned at the end of each class, and also will be posted on the class website.

Course Requirements

• Come to class prepared. Complete all required readings beforehand, and bring your textbook/readings to class.
  

• Participate. Attend class regularly and on time—you cannot participate if you are not present—and join your colleagues in critical analysis of the assigned readings. In order to encourage participation, you will be asked to complete the following assignment:
  

• Summaries. Write six (6) one-page summaries of assigned readings throughout the course of the semester. Guidelines for summary writing will be distributed early in the semester. In general, you can submit summaries whenever you would like, with the following restriction: one summary must be completed in February, with an additional one (two in total) due by the mid-term exam. Still, I encourage you to WRITE YOUR SUMMARIES EARLY – do not wait until the end of the semester, or you may run out of time to complete your required six.
  

• Complete all other written assignments:
  

• Exams. You will be given two examinations throughout the course, a mid-term and a final. The final exam focuses primarily on material covered in the second half of the course, but may build upon and refer to material discussed earlier. Exams will consist of brief essay questions, with the questions distributed in advance. Exams will be based on the required readings and on classroom discussions.
  

• Paper/Presentation. A 7-9 page research paper will be due towards the end of the semester. You will be required to present a preliminary draft to the class shortly before. Details for the assignment, including deadlines and instructions, will be distributed in class later in the semester.

Grading

Your grade will be based on your written work and your class participation. Course requirements will be weighted as follows when calculating your grade:

Paper/Presentation: 25%
The research paper will be worth one-fourth (25%) of your grade. Grading criteria will be included when the paper assignments are distributed. A one letter grade penalty will be imposed upon late papers without valid documentation (e.g., medical emergency).

Exams: 50%
Of the two exams, your lowest grade will be worth 20%, while your highest will be worth 30%. Make-up exams will be given only when proper documentation for the absence is provided.

Participation: 25%
Submission of all required summaries establishes a base participation grade of B. Failure to submit a summary will lower this grade by one-third of a letter grade (e.g., B to B-). Excessive lateness or absences may lead to further reductions, while frequent and thoughtful contributions to class discussion will have the opposite effect.

Incomplete grades will be assigned only for a valid and documented cause, for a length of time specified by the instructor when the documentation is accepted.

Academic Integrity

Students should be aware of the college’s policies regarding cheating, plagiarism and any other kind of academic misconduct as outlined in the MMC Academic Honesty Policy. These policies will be discussed briefly during the first class, and are available in the links to the right side of this webpage. Students who have questions or concerns about their written work should discuss these with the instructor before submitting any assignments.

Special Needs

Any student who is learning disabled, whose primary language is other than English, or who has other special needs and may thus require special accommodations should notify me immediately.

Course Schedule (subject to change)

Monday, January 28
Course Overview

Wednesday, January 30
Introduction to Public Policy: the Basics

Monday, February 4
Introduction to Public Policy: Normative Issues

Wednesday, February 6
Introduction to Public Policy: Models of the Policy Process

Monday, February 11
The Policy Cycle: Problem Formulation

Wednesday, February 13
The Policy Cycle: Agenda-Setting

Monday, February 18
NO CLASS – PRESIDENT’S DAY

Wednesday, February 20
The Policy Cycle: Legitimation and Adoption

Monday, February 25
The Policy Cycle: Implementation

Wednesday, February 27
The Policy Cycle: Evaluation

Monday, March 3
Policy Types

Wednesday, March 5
Policy Types (continued)

Monday, March 10
Exam Review

Wednesday, March 12
MID-TERM EXAMINATION

Monday, March 17
Wednesday, March 19
NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK

Monday, March 24
Policy Design

Wednesday, March 26
Policy Design (cont.)

Monday, March 31
Goals: Equity

Wednesday, April 2
Goals: Equity (cont.)

Monday, April 7
Goals: Efficiency

Wednesday, April 9
NO CLASS – ADVISEMENT DAY

Monday, April 14
Paper presentations

Wednesday, April 16
Paper presentations

Monday, April 21
Paper presentations

Wednesday, April 23
Problems: Symbols

Monday, April 28
Problems: Numbers

Wednesday, April 30
Cost-Benefit Analysis

Monday, May 5
Problems: Interests

Wednesday, May 7
Interests and Issues

Monday, May 12
Exam Review

Wednesday, May 14
FINAL EXAM