Introduction to Public Policy

California State University, Northridge

POLS 361

Fall 1999

 

Professor:         Matthew Cahn              

Phone:              (818) 677-6518

Office Hrs:        T: 4:00 - 6:00 pm  & by appointment

Email:               matthew.cahn@csun.edu

 

Philosophers have sought to understand the world... the point, however, is to change it.  (Karl Marx)

 

Course Description

 

Public Policy is the basis of democratic politics.  If it's public, it's made in our name; if it's policy, it regulates our very existence.  As a consequence public policy determines the core of our political, and often personal, lives.   This course introduces students to Public Policy as a subfield of political science.  As such, it will introduce students to the policy process with an emphasis on policy outputs.  Specifically, who benefits, who loses.

 

Required Reading

 

Theodoulou and Cahn: Public Policy: The Essential Readings

(Prentice Hall, 1995)

 

Deborah Stone:  Policy Paradox: The Art of Decision Making

(WW Norton, 1998)

 

B. Guy Peters: American Public Policy: Promise and Performance - 5th ed.

(Chatham House, 1998)

 

Course Evaluation & Requirements

 

Attendance & Participation        10%

Midterm Examination                 30%

Research Paper                         30%

                                    Final Exam                                30%

 

The course employs the traditional +/- grading system.  Requirements include participation in weekly discussion, a midterm examination, completion of a semester research paper, and a final examination.  University policy requires me to remind you that cheating or plagiarism (representing the work of another as one's own) will result in an "F" and may result in further disciplinary measures.

 

A 10-12 page paper exploring some topic related to public policy is required.  The paper should critically analyze an issue, keeping in mind the political and economic implications.  Remember, the paper should be analytic, not merely descriptive.  The paper must use scholarly sources, including political science journals and research articles.  (Magazines such as NEWSWEEK and TIME are not appropriate.)  Speak with instructor about appropriate references and sources.  We will  discuss this further in class.

 

Please note that the bulk of the reading is assigned in the first portion of the class.  This is for two reasons.  First, you will need a strong background early in the semester in order to assess the policy areas in a meaningful way.  Second, you will be spending a great deal of time in the later portion of the semester researching and writing your research paper.  Please plan accordingly!

Semester Outline    (Please Complete Reading Prior to the Day Assigned)

 

PART ONE:   The Policy Environment

 

Week I (8/31):  Organizational Meeting

- Plan of Semester

- The Nature of Public Policy

! What is Public Policy

! The Policy Process

 

Week II (9/7): The Policy Structure

- The Nature of Public Policy

! The Policy Structure:  Federal, State, Local   

! Rdg Due:   Peters chs. 1-2; Th & C chs. 1&11

 

Week III (9/14): Policy Models

- Overview of Policy Models  (Accounting for the subtleties)

! Group Theory (Dahl)              

! Incrementalism (Lindblom)

! Institutionalism                                    

! Process Model

! Bureaucratic Theory (Weber)          

! Rdg Due:   Th & C chs. 2-10; Stone 1-2

 

Week IV (9/21): Policy Models (continued)

! Elite Theory (Mills, Domhoff, & Marx)              

! Rational Model                         

! Public Choice

! Systems Model                         

! Game Theory             

! Rdg Due:   Th & C chs. 12-18; Stone 3-5

 

PART TWO:   Policy Formation and Implementation

 

Week V (9/28):  Policy Formation and Legitimation

- Formation, Legitimation, Agenda Setting

! Rdg Due:   Peters ch. 3-4; Th & C chs. 22-36

 

Week VI (10/5):  Policy Implementation

- Implementing Public Policy

! Rdg Due:   Peters ch. 5; Th & C chs. 37-46

 

Week VII (10/12): Midterm Examination

 

Week VIII (10/19): Budgeting and Allocation

! Rdg Due:   Peters  ch. 6

 

PART THREE: Problems and Solutions in the Policy Process

 

Week IX (10/26): Problems in the Policy Process

! Rdg Due:   Stone chs. 6-10

 

Week X (11/2):   Solutions in the Policy Process

! Rdg Due: Stone chs.  11-15

 

PART FOUR: Substantive Policy Issues

 

Week XI (11/9):    Economic Policy& Health Care

! Rdg Due: Peters chs. 8-9

 

Week XII (11/16): Social Welfare and Education Policy

! Rdg Due:  Peters chs. 10-11

 

Week XIII (11/23): Energy & Environment

! Rdg Due:  Peters ch. 12

 

PART FIVE:  Policy Analysis and Evaluation: Choosing the Right Response

 

Week XIV (11/30): Policy Analysis

- Cost-Benefit Calculations

- Qualitative Calculations

! Rdg Due:  Peters chs. 14-15 & 14-15; Th & C chs. 19-21

 

Week XV (12/7): Policy Evaluation

- Cost-Benefit Calculations

- Qualitative Calculations

! Rdg Due:  Peters ch. 7 & 14-15; Th & C chs. 19-21

 

Papers Due on Day of Final Exam

Final Exam:  AS SCHEDULED   (The Final Exam is Cumulative)