| 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.) | |