Course PSCI 3325, American Public Policy

Professor Robert Lowry

Term Fall 2010
Meetings Tuesday and Thursday 10-11:15 am, GR 3.420

Professor’s Contact Information

Office Phone 972-883-6720
Office Location Green Hall 3.533
Email Address robert.lowry@utdallas.edu
Office Hours Tuesday 6-7 pm; Wednesday 1:30-3:30, or by appointment.

Teaching Assistant: Diane Verrill

Office Phone 972-883-6416
Office Location Green Hall 3.314
Email Address dlv051000@utdallas.edu
Office Hours Tuesday and Thursday 11:30-1:00.

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:

1. Identify the justification for government action on public policy issues,

and analyze the importance of major governmental institutions and
processes.
Learning 2. Analyze the politics of public policy decision making and the pros and
Objectives/Outcomes cons of different policy options.
3. Apply their understanding and analysis to a specific contemporary
policy issue.

Students will also develop written communication skills through an

iterative process in which students submit drafts of three parts of a term
paper and then revise and resubmit the entire paper.
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The following book 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. This will be announced in class and on eLearning.

Assignments & Academic Calendar

Date Topic(s) Assignment*
I. Overview of Policy Making, Implementation,
and Analysis
Aug. 19 Introduction
Aug. 24 What is public policy? Peters chap. 1, [1]
Aug. 26 Policymaking in American Government
Peters chap. 2
Writing research papers Peters chap. 3
Aug. 31
Explaining policy choices
Sept. 2 TBA
Sept. 7 Democratic institutions and public policy [2]
Sept. 9 Agenda setting and public policy Peters chap. 4
Legitimating policy choices Peters chap. 5
Sept. 14
PAPER TOPICS DUE
Sept. 16 Policy Implementation Peters chap. 6
Sept. 21 Budgeting Peters chap. 7
Sept. 23 Program evaluation and policy change Peters chap. 8
Sept. 28 Cost-benefit and ethical analysis Peters chap. 17
Sept. 30 Review
Oct. 5 MIDTERM EXAM
II. Substantive Policy Issues
Oct. 7 Macroeconomic policy Peters, chap. 9
Regulating financial markets [7]
Oct. 12
FIRST PAPER INSTALLMENT DUE
Oct. 14 Federal Tax Policy Peters, chap. 10
Oct. 19 State tax and budget policy [9]
Oct. 21 Health Care Policies Peters, chap. 11
Oct. 26 Health insurance reform [6]
Oct. 28 Social Security and Welfare Peters, chap. 12
Nov. 2 Immigration [8]
Nov. 4 Education Policy Peters, chap. 13
Energy and the Environment Peters, chap. 14
Nov. 9
SECOND PAPER INSTALLMENT DUE
Nov. 11 Climate change [3], [5]
Nov. 16 Defense and Law Enforcement Peters, chap. 15
Nov. 18 Homeland security [10]
Nov. 23 Culture wars Peters, chap. 16
Nov. 25 NO CLASS – THANKSGIVING
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Nov. 30 Religion and public policy [4]

Review
Dec. 2
FINAL PAPERS DUE
Dec. 9 FINAL EXAM 8:00 AM

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

Course Policies

This course satisfies the UTD Core Communications requirement. The main
assignment therefore is to write a research paper on a recent public policy debate in
the United States or Texas. Each student must choose an issue that involved
significant debate leading up to a specific decision about a piece of legislation, an
administrative regulation, or an international treaty. The decision may have been to
retain the status quo, but in the case of Congress, for example, there should have been
a final vote in at least one chamber of Congress.

Paper topics are due in class Tuesday, September 14. The paper will be completed in
three installments, due Tuesday, October 12, Tuesday, November 9, and Thursday,
December 2.

The first installment should introduce the issue and analyze the politics of the
situation:
- What was the problem that lead to the proposed action? How did this problem get
on the political agenda?
- Who are the major political players, what were the sources of their influence, what
were their political interests, and what were their policy positions?
- Who were the major private interests, what were the sources of their influence,
what were their interests, and what were their policy positions?
Grading Criteria
This installment should be about 7-10 double-spaced pages. It will be returned with
comments.

The second installment should address specific policy proposals and the action taken:
- What were the major proposals considered? What were the pros and cons from a
substantive policy standpoint?
- What was the resolution of the controversy? Why did things turn out this way?
- If the proposal was adopted, has it succeeded in achieving the goals stated? If the
proposal was rejected, does the problem it was meant to address still persist?

This installment should also be about 7-10 double-spaced pages, and will be returned
with comments.

The final paper should include revised versions of the two draft installments, and
should be 15 to 20 double-spaced pages in length (12-point font), excluding
references and any tables or figures.

Additional information on writing research papers is posted on eLearning and will be

discussed in class Tuesday, August 31.

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
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Tuesday, October 5 and Thursday, December 9 (finals week).

Grades will be based on the following criteria:

Midterm exam 20 %
Final exam 30
First paper installment 12.5
Second paper installment 12.5
Final paper 25

Make-up exams will be given in the event of a documented medical, family or work
Late Work
emergency. No other excuses will be accepted. Unexcused late paper installments and
final papers will be penalized 20 % for each day they are late.

You are strongly encouraged to attend class and take notes. We will be covering
material in class that supplements the assigned readings. This material may be on the
Class Attendance
exams. In addition, while I will post the outline from each class on eLearning, I will
not be posting detailed lecture notes, and don’t bother asking for them.

Additional UTD policies regarding student conduct and discipline, academic

University integrity, email use, withdrawing from class, grievance procedures, incomplete
Policies grades, disability services, religious holy days, and resources to help you succeed can
be found at http://go.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies.

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

Readings designated as eReserve are posted on the electronic reserve available through the
library’s web page. All other readings can be found by searching the library’s 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 N. Bickers and John T. Williams, “Forms of Democracy and Implications for
Public Policy.” In Public Policy Analysis: A Political Economy Approach, 35-57. Houghton
Mifflin Company 2001. eReserve

[3] “China’s Thing about Numbers.” The Economist , January 2, 2010, pp. 43-44.

[4] Thomas J. Billiteri, “Government and Religion.” CQ Researcher Vol .20, Issue 2
(January 15, 2010).

[5] Marcia Clemmitt, “Energy and Climate.” CQ Researcher Vol. 19, Issue 26 (July 24,
2009)

[6] Marcia Clemmitt, “Health-Care Reform.” CQ Researcher Vol. 20, Issue 22 (June 11,
2010)

[7] Marcia Clemmitt, “Financial Industry Overhaul.” CQ Researcher Vol. 20, Issue 27 (July
30, 2010).

[8] Alan Greenblatt, "Immigration Debate." CQ Researcher Vol. 18, Issue 5 (February 1,
2008).

[9] Alan Greenblatt, “State Budget Crisis.” CQ Researcher Vol. 19, Issue 31 (September 11,
2009).

[10] Peter Katel, “Homeland Security.” CQ Researcher Vol. 19, Issue 6 (February 13, 2009).