Making Public Policy

Calendar

SES #	TOPICS	KEY DATES
1	Introduction
Part I: A (Brief) Policy and Politics Framework
2	An Introduction to Policy and Politics
Part II: Setting the Agenda and Shaping Policy Options
3	Health Care: Interest Groups and Public Opinion – Defining the Problem in the Contemporary Era
4	Health Care: Passing Health-Care Reform in Congress
5	Health Care: Implementing Health-Care Reform
6	Policy Evaluation: Health Care and Gun Control
7	Gun Control: Agenda Setting and Issue Framing
8	Gun Control: Organized and Unorganized Interests Guest Lecture: Professor Regina Bateson	Paper 1 Due
9	Gun Control: Policy and Evaluation
Part III: Making Policy Decisions
10	Federal Budget: Recession, Deficit, and Problem Definition
11	Federal Budget: Recession, Deficit, and Problem Definition (cont.)
12	Federal Budget: Legislative Tactics – The Fiscal Cliff and the Sequester
13	Immigration Reform: History, Economic Impacts, and Current Policy	Draft of Paper 2 Due
14	Immigration Reform: Legislative Efforts and the Electoral Connection	Paper 2 Due
15	Immigration Reform: Executive Action
16	Gay Marriage: Making Social Policy at the Federal Level
17	Gay Marriage: Making Policy in the States
18	Gay Marriage: Making Policy in Court
19	Guest Speaker	Paper 3 Due
Part IV: Putting It All Together: The Policymaking Process
20	Climate Change: Science, Public Opinion, and the Media
21	Climate Change: Federal Action in Congress and the Executive Branch
22	Climate Change: Policy Options
23	Climate Change: State Action and the Arizona Net-Metering Case
Part VI: Wrapping It Up
24	Summary Class	Paper 4 Due
25	Final Oral Project
26	Final Oral Project (cont.)