Course Meeting Times
Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1.5 hours / session
Course Overview
This class is divided into four sections, each of which is illustrated with case studies of various social programs. We open by discussing cultural and institutional reasons for American exceptionalism in social policy, using the case of health insurance. In the second part of the class, we begin studying policy inputs with a focus on the mass public: defining political participation, studying subgroup differences in participation rates, exploring the origins of political preferences, examining patterns of interest group organization, and discussing the nature of representative government and the theoretical relationship between participation and representation. In the third part of the course we turn to the policymaking process, studying how problems come onto the political agenda and how Congress, the courts, and the bureaucracy shape policy. Fourth, we study policy in practice: how policies are implemented; how their designs shape client experiences and subsequent policy outcomes; where we draw the line between public and private provision; and with a few final case studies how the working years, gender, and human capital formation (education) are treated by U.S. social policy. We conclude by speculating about the likely course of American social policy in the future.
Grading
Grades will be earned on the following basis:
| ACTIVITIES | PERCENTAGES |
|---|---|
| Class Participation | 20% |
| Intermediate Projects (Assignments 1-4) | 20% |
| Final Paper | 60% |
Students are expected to complete the intermediate projects, each of which is a stage in preparing the final research paper. For the research paper, students will choose a policy area and examine the course of policymaking - what factors led to the policy outcome that was achieved? The final paper (20-25 pages, double-spaced, 12-point type) is due 2 days after Lec #25 at 5:00 pm at my office. Students will also take turns writing discussion questions and helping to lead class discussion (3-4 times during the semester, depending on enrollment). These efforts will be part of the seminar participation grade. The discussion questions should be emailed to the class by 5:00 pm the evening before your assigned day.
Calendar
| LEC # | TOPICS | KEY DATES |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | |
| Part I: American Exceptionalism and a Case: Why No National Health Insurance in the United States? | ||
| 2-3 | U.S. Health Policy | |
| Part II: Preferences, Participation, and Representation | ||
| 4 | Who Participates? | |
| 5 | Who Gets Represented? The Case of Social Security | |
| 6 | Who Gets Represented? The Case of Tax Cuts and Other Policies | |
| 7 | Interest Groups I | |
| 8 | Interest Groups II: Business vs. Labor | |
| 9-10 | Public Opinion and Preference Formation: The Case of Universal vs. Targeted Programs | |
| Part III: The Policy-Making Process | ||
| 11 | Problem Definition and Agenda Setting I: The Case of Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage | |
| 12 | Problem Definition and Agenda Setting II | Assignment 1 due: Select issue area for research paper |
| 13 | Policy-Relevant Institutions: Congress I | |
| 14 | Policy-Relevant Institutions: Congress II; The Case of the Hidden Welfare State | Assignment 2 due: List at least five sources |
| 15 | Policy-Relevant Institutions: The Courts; The Case of Welfare Rights | |
| Part IV: Policy in Practice | ||
| 16 | Implementation: The Case of Rehabilitation in Prison | Assignment 3 due: Write paragraph on actors in your issue area |
| 17 | Policy Design | |
| 18 | The Consequences of Policy Design: The Cases of Welfare and the G.I. Bill | |
| 19 | Public-Private Relations | Assignment 4 due 2 days after Lec #19: 8-10 pages on opinion and participation in your issue area |
| 20 | The Working Years: Unemployment, Disability Insurance, and the EITC | |
| 21 | Gender in U.S. Social Policy: The Case of Family and Medical Leave | |
| 22 | Education Policy: Vouchers | |
| 23 | Education Policy: Federal College Loans | |
| 24-25 | Course Conclusion: The Future of American Social Policy | Assignment 5 due 2 days after Lec #25: Final paper due |
