Political Feasibility Analysis-Winning Strategies in Public Policy
LAW-421 and MPP-408
Loyola University School of Law
Spring Semester 2016
Ron Gibbs, Adjunct Professor
Wednesdays 4:15pm to 6:45pm, Room 426
rgibbs1@luc.edu and 312-543-1455
Course Overview and Syllabus
Course objectives and structure: Gaining passage of any new public policy is a dynamic
process because of the constantly changing nature of the political environment. Developing
and implementing public policies requires an array of strategic approaches and analytical
tools while understanding the importance of evaluating risk and opportunity as well as
understanding historical precedents in pursing any public policy changes.
This course will review and analyze various public policy strategies and research
methodologies for assessing the political feasibility of successfully enacting new public
policies at the federal, state, and local levels. The course will delve into the three major
policy domains of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.
Students will be introduced to a new perspective on how to successfully enact public policy
through the use of the political feasibility analysis model. The course will examine how to
conduct an assessment of the policy initiators power base to determine the best strategic
approach for enacting a new public policy. Various public policy strategies will be analyzed
to include inclusionary, persuasive and exclusionary. After assessing the policy initiator’s
power base and the risks, an analysis will be made on the viability of pursuing the public
policy issue given the political environment.
The course will analyze retrospectively various successful and unsuccessful public policy
campaigns and initiatives to bring about social change. The political feasibility analysis
model will examine key strategies and variables to determine why some policies are
successfully enacted and others fail. The course will look prospectively at current policies in
debate at the federal, state and local levels and analyze the current strategies in play using the
political feasibility model.
The final exam provide an opportunity for students to identify a new public policy that
should be enacted at any level of government and propose a plan of action using the
feasibility model for winning in the endgame.
By the end of the course, students will be adept at assessing whether a new public policy can
be enacted at the federal, state and local levels through the use of the political feasibility
analysis model. This course brings together theory and practice in the real world of public
policy to successfully bring about social change.
Reading Materials: Materials for the course will include Harvard Kennedy School of
Government policy case studies, selected books and various chapter readings and articles. In
addition, the instructor will provide readings materials for lectures on various public policy
initiatives and legislative campaigns where he provided the leadership and direction in both
successful and unsuccessful public policy issues.
Students will be required to read materials that will keep them current on the hot policy
issues in play nationally as well as at the state and local government levels. Materials and
announcements will be posted regularly on Sakai along with any changes throughout the
semester in the syllabus.
Course Structure: The structure for the course will center on case study analysis, class
policy group presentations and class participation in analyzing current hot policy topics in
debate and in the media. Students should integrate the skills and draw upon analytical tools
gained from other core curriculum courses to enhance class discussion and in written
materials. Group presentations will focus on analyzing successful and unsuccessful policies
enacted at the local, state and federal levels utilizing the political feasibility model developed
for the course.
Guest Speakers: There will at least two guest speakers invited from key sectors to include
legislative, political, lobbying, nonprofit, bureaucratic, media, business, among others. These
speakers will not only provide valuable real world insights on public policy implementation
but provide exposure to new areas of interests for potential career opportunities.
Format for each class:
 Discussion of “Hot Policy Topics” in debate at various levels of government at start of
class.
 Instructor lectures on various case studies and key elements to political feasibility
analysis model and framework.
 Class case study discussion and analysis. Students will be called upon to address key
questions and analyze the various case studies and readings for each class.
 Policy Group class presentations on a successful and unsuccessful policy issue.
Text books:
Students will be required to purchase only one book on Politics and Public Politics by Donald C.
Baumer and Carl E. Van Horn, 4th Edition, CQ Press, 2014.
Other reading materials and chapters will be posted on Sakai to include:
Interest Groups Unleashed, Paul S. Hernson, Christopher J. Deering, Clyde Wilcox, CQ Press,
2013.
Lobbying and Policy Change: Who Wins, Who Loses and Why, Frank Baumgartner, Jeffrey
Berry, Marie Hojnacki, David Kimball, Beth Leech, University of Chicago Press, 2009.
Politics and Public Policy, Carl E. Van Horn, Donald C. Baumer, William T. Gormley, Jr., Third
Edition, 2001.
Interest Group Politics, Allan J. Cigler and Burdett A. Loomis, 4th Edition, 2007.
Eyewitness To Power: The Essence of Leadership—Nixon to Clinton, David Gergen, Touchstone
edition, 2001.
Harvard Kennedy School case studies for purchase
Instructions will be provided on the purchasing process and posted on Sakai. Cases may include:
 A Prescription for Change: The 2010 Obama Overhaul of the American Health Care
System.
 The Battle Over the Clinton Health Care Proposal and Sequel.
 Against All Odds: The Campaign in Congress for Japanese American Redress.
 From Research to Policy: The Cigarette Excise Tax.
 “No Prison In East L.A!” Birth of a Grassroots Movement.
 Mental Health Parity. Bill signed by President Bush 2008.
 California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32).
 Department of Homeless Services in New York City under Mayor Bloomberg.
 A Tampa “Town Hall” Forum Goes Awry: Anatomy of a Public Meeting Fiasco, 2009.
 Supreme Court’s ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act 2013 and overturning Prop. 8 in
California banning same-sex marriages.
 The “Three Strikes” Law in California: The Ballot Initiative passed 1994 and amended in
2012 by Proposition 36.
 Jailing “Kids for Cash” in Pennsylvania 2009. Two judges guilty of wire fraud and
income tax evasion on kickbacks of $2.6m from youth detention centers.
 Others to be posted.
Other case study materials and articles to be provided:
 Federal gun control legislative initiatives proposed by the Obama administration but
failed to be enacted after the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook 2013.
 California Proposition 8. A ballot proposition created by opponents of same-sex marriage
which passed in California in 2008.
 State of Recidivism-The Revolving Door of America’s Prisons, PEW research study.
 Collective Bargaining in Ohio-Senate Bill 5 and Popular Referendum Issue Two in 2010.
 ComEd defeating legislation calling for a “utility rate freeze.”
 Hunger in America. Is it really a problem?
 Farm Bill reform and reducing farm subsidies. Building a ‘Left-Right Coalition.”
 FedEx vs. UPS and the battle of the messenger titans on Senate legislation that would
have caused FedEx to become unionized which they opposed.
 The Children’s Museum in Chicago. The battle to move the museum between Mayor
Daley and a newly elected City Council Alderman Brendan Reilly.
 Expanding Medicare coverage for diabetes prevention and education and fighting an era
of “no new mandates in Congress” with the powerful Speaker Newt Gingrich.
 Establishing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., the most visited in our
nation’s capital, to honor the more than 58,000 killed in Vietnam and to impact on public
policy.
 Republic Window Company plant closing in Chicago. Employees protest the plant
closing and gain local and national support in 2008.
 Building a Third Airport in Chicago. Development of a federal strategy and passage of
the federal Airport Faculty Charges to fund the construction of a third airport.
 Developing a National Urban Agenda for America’s cities with Chicago Mayor Harold
Washington and the U.S. Conference of Mayors during the conservative era to fight
radical reductions in Federal programs to fund America’s cities.
 Obama, Explained, James Fallows, The Atlantic, March 2012.


Making It-How Chicago Shaped Obama, Ryan Lizza, New Yorker Magazine, July 21,
2008.
The Obama Memos-The making of a post-post-partisan presidency, Ryan Lizza, New
Yorker Magazine, January 30, 2012.
Current events readings:
Students will also be expected to remain current on high-profile public policy issues and the
current political environment by reading major newspapers, journal, and magazines. Students
should be prepared to engage in course discussions and will be called upon for comments. Aside
from reading references such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, etc., students are
encouraged to reference Politico.com, The Daily Beast.com, Roll Call.com, among others.
Assignments and Grading:
This course will have group and individual assignments as the core for grading
Group Assignments
 Tracking two “Hot Topic” policy issues to be discussed weekly in class.
Each group will track two policy issues, keep current on the latest developments, and be able
to relate them to course material. Students should be prepared to briefly update the class
weekly.
 Two policy presentations to the class and written policy memorandums.
Each policy presentation will be 30-35 minutes to include a class Q&A. Each group must
select one successful and unsuccessful policy initiative. Students should be creative with
power point presentations and use of visual materials. A copy of the power point should be
turned in on the day of the presentation along with a 7-8 page paper which can be emailed.
The written paper should be a solid narrative that supports the class power point presentation.
Examples of previous class presentations and written memorandum will be posted on Sakai.
Individual Assignments
 Each student is expected to complete assigned readings and come prepared for class
discussions on the hot topics of the week.
 Students will be called to discuss the weekly case studies and provide insightful
commentary on strategies utilized or in some cases not utilized.
 Final take home exam
Students will submit a 15-18 page paper on a policy topic of the student’s choice in
consultation with the instructor. The paper will delve into a real world policy issue
currently in play and recommend a strategic approach for winning in the endgame.
Final grades will be based on:
 Class participation
10%
 Two written policy memorandums and class presentations 50% (25% each)
 Final take home exam.
40%
The final exam will be handled out four weeks in advance of the end of the semester.
Political Feasibility Analysis-Winning Strategies in Public Policy
LAW-421 and MPP-408
Weekly Course Outline
(Subject to revisions)
Week 1-Jan. 20th: Course overview and introduction to Political Feasibility Analysis
Course overview:
 Instructor background, course expectations and outcomes.
 Class introductions, expectations for course and major policy areas of interest.
 Overview of syllabus, class structure and grading.
 Policy Group formation and assignments:
o Track two “Hot Topic” policy issues throughout the course.
o Two Policy Group class powerpoint presentations on a successful and
unsuccessful policy issue.
Introductory lecture: The political feasibility analysis model and developing winning public
policy strategies.
 Power base development
 Assessing risk and opportunity
 Understanding shifts in the political environment
 Historical precedents
 Effective policy strategies: Persuasive, Inclusionary and Exclusionary
 Leadership oversight and establishing a “war room”
 Winning in the Endgame.
Brief overview and discussion of the key public policy domains: Legislative, Executive and
Judicial branches of government. Reference chapter reading from “Politics and Public Policy.”
Instructor case study presentation and class discussion: Gaining passage of Federal legislation
establishing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the most visited memorial in our nation’s Capitol.
Use of the feasibility model to bring about changes in public opinion, building a national
coalition and accessing key political leaders to win in the endgame. Readings on Sakai.
Week 2-Jan. 27th: Public Policy Strategies: Persuasive, Inclusionary, and Exclusionary
Readings:
 Political Feasibility Analysis, Chapter 10, Politics and Public Policy, Carl E. Van Horn,
Donald C. Baumer, William T. Gormley, Jr., 3rd Edition, 2001. Posted on Sakai.
 Harvard Case Study: “Against All Odds: The Campaign in Congress for Japanese
American Redress.”
Policy Group formation and selection of policy Hot Topics: Class will be divided into groups and
will meet to decide upon their weekly “Hot Topics” for discussion. Groups will break-out for
twenty minutes to discuss, gain consensus and present topics to class.
Lectures and class discussion: In-depth discussion of the political feasibility model with
emphasis on defining the persuasive, inclusionary and exclusionary policy strategies.
Class case study analysis and discussion: “Against All Odds: The Campaign in Congress for
Japanese American Redress.”
Week 3-Feb. 3rd: Analysis of the Clinton and Obama health care reform initiatives using
the feasibility model. Why did Clinton lose and Obama win?
Readings:
 “The Battle Over the Clinton Health Care Proposal,” Harvard Kennedy case study.
 “A Prescription for Change: The Obama 2010 Overhaul of the American Health Care
System”, Harvard case study.
 “Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership—Nixon to Clinton,” David Gergen.
 Courtroom Politics, Chapter 7, Politics and Public Policy, 2014.
“Hot Topics” class discussion.
Class lecture and case study analysis: The Battle Over the Clinton Health Care Proposal and the
Obama Affordable Care Act.
The Clinton and Obama health care reform strategies will be analyzed and compared using the
feasibility model. The key question to analyze is why did Clinton lose and Obama win?
Class discussion the Supreme Court’s final ruling on the ACA and the role of the courts in public
policy making.
Week 4-Feb. 10th: Inclusionary Policy Strategies-Use of Coalitions, Alliances and
Consultation. High ethical standards and public policy making
Readings:
 Federal gun control legislation. Failure of the Obama administration to gain passage
meaningful gun control legislation after Sandy Hook in 2013.
 Building a “National Urban Agenda for America’s Cities” during the Reagan era to fight
cuts funds for federal programs supporting urban America.
 Chief Executive Politics, chapter 6, Politics and Public Policy.
 Ethics and public policy. The K-Street lobbyists in Washington, D.C. and the rise and fall
of Jack Abramoff.
“Hot Topics” class discussion.
Class lecture:
 Obama’s Federal gun control legislative initiative after the tragic shootings at Sandy
Hook in 2013. Why did the legislation fail with very high public opinion polling early on
supporting gun control legislation?
 Development of a “National Urban Agenda” during the Reagan era of less government
spending. Case study of Harold Washington election as first black Mayor of Chicago and
building a national urban coalition to fight for America's cities. Case example highlights
drafting legislation with language which disguises the real intention of the law and avoid
any opposition.
 Chief Executive Politics-lecture and class discussion on the power base of chief
executives and various strategies that can be utilized to enact public policies.
 The need for high ethical standards in the public policy arena. The Jack Abramoff story. A
powerful K-Street lobbyist goes to jail for bribery of members of Congress and staff.
Week 5-Feb. 17th: Inclusionary Policy Strategies with the use of state referendums and
building left-right ad hoc coalitions
Readings:
 Ohio Collective Bargaining-Senate Bill 5 and Popular Referendum Issue 2 in 2011.
 Farm Bill Reform 2008: Report from the German-Marshall Fund on building a “LeftRight Coalition” and an “Alliance of Strange Bedfellows”
“Hot Topics” class discussion.
Lectures and class discussion:
 Ohio collective bargaining legislative. Governor Kasich of Ohio wins with passage of
Senate Bill 5 to end collective bargaining in the state and the unions mount a massive
referendum campaign to overturn the Governor’s legislative initiative. Why did the
Governor lose and the unions win?
 Farm Bill Reform—Building a National Alliance to End Farm Subsides.
Use of lobbyists, think tanks and public affairs consultant to build your power base
Building a Left-Right Coalition with the “Alliance for Sensible Agriculture PolicyASAP.”
Week 6-Feb. 24th: Persuasive Policy Strategies-Use of Research and Policy Analysis
Readings:
 Harvard Case Study: “From Research to Policy: The Cigarette Excise Tax”
 State of Recidivism-The Revolving Door of America’s Prisons, PEW research study.
 Regional Transportation Authority Funding Issues-Battle between Governor, RTA, CTA
and the Mayor of Chicago.
 Cloakroom Politics, chapter 5, Politics and Public Policy.
“Hot Topics” class discussion.
Class case study analysis: “From Research to Policy: The Cigarette Excise Tax” and State of
Recidivism-The Revolving Door of America’s Prisons. The use of policy analysis and research to
impact on policy makers, increase public awareness and build a power base.
Transportation case study in solving a major Chicago transit funding crisis through persuasive
data and research and compromise in the endgame.
Lecture: Cloakroom politics-understanding the legislative process, the organizational norms in
legislatures and the power of leadership and seniority.
Week 7: No class.
Week 8: Guest Speaker Chicago Alderman Joe Moore (tentative)-Enacting public policies
at local levels of government
“Hot Topics” class discussion.
Two Policy Group presentations
Guest Speaker: Chicago Alderman Joe Moore. Presentation topics:
 Implementing public policies at the local level. Working with a strong Mayor and 50
Alderman to legislate for Chicago.
 “Participatory Budgeting:” Discussion on its use in Chicago, nationally and
internationally. Empowering people at the local level with key decisions on how funds
are allocated and for what programs.
Week 9: Persuasive Policy Strategies-Use of Protest and Grassroots Organizing
Readings:
 Harvard Case Study: “No Prison In East L.A!” and sequel.
 Republic Window Company plant closing in Chicago.
 Chicago Children's Museum-Freshman Alderman takes on Mayor Daley.
 Bureaucratic Politics, chapter 4, Politics and Public Policy.
“Hot Topics” class discussion
Lecture and case study analysis:
 No Prison in East L.A! Building a grassroots movement.
 Republic Window Company plant closing. The real audacity of hope!
 The Chicago Children's Museum. A Chicago Alderman losing to the Mayor but
maintaining his power base with constituents.
Lecture: Bureaucratic politics and the role of the bureaucracy in policy implementation. Often
called the fourth branch of government or the “administrative state”, the bureaucracy holds
significant power in ruling making to successfully implement any new legislation that is passed.
Two Policy Group presentations
Week 10: Communication strategies and the use of social media vs. traditional media in the
public policy arena
Guest Speaker: Bob Rowley, Director of Communications, Northwestern University and
former National Editor, Chicago Tribune and foreign correspondent. (Tentative)
Two Policy Group presentations.
Guest Speaker Bob Rowley: The role of the media in public policy and the use of social media
vs. traditional media.
Week 11: Exclusionary Policy Strategies: Deception, By-pass, Chief Executive Powers and
State Referendums
Readings:
 California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) and Ballot Proposition 23 to overturn
the Global Warming Act.
 The “Three Strikes” Law in California: The Ballot Initiative, Harvard case study and
Proposition 8 Referendum to ban same-sex marriage in California.
 ComEd-fighting back against a utility rate freeze.
“Hot Topics” class discussion.
Lecture case studies and class discussion:
 ComEd’s campaign to fight a utility rate freeze in Illinois through deception and the
creation of a faux citizens organization opposing the utility freeze.
 Use of referendums to by-pass the state legislature and the courts:
o Ban on same-sex marriage with passage of Proposition 8 in 2008 overturned the
state Supreme Court ruling in favor of same-sex marriage.
o “Three Strikes” sentencing law Proposition 184 passed in 1994 and was amended
in 2012 with the passage of Proposition 36.
o Proposition 23 seeking to overturn the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32)
passed by the state legislature in 2010.
Two Policy Group Presentations
Week 12: Tools of the Trade in the Feasibility Model: Grassroots & Grass-tops advocacy,
Town Hall Meetings and Social Media
Readings:
 Federal Aviation Administration Airport Facility Charges-Efforts to Build a Third Airport
in Chicago with Federal Legislation.
 FedEx battles with UPS in federal legislation that could open the door to unionizing.
 A Tampa “Town Hall” Forum Goes Awry: Anatomy of a Public Meeting Fiasco, 2009,
KSG case study.
“Hot Topics” class discussion
Class case study and lecture discussion:
 Building a third airport in Chicago with federal funding using an exclusionary strategies
and “grass-tops” advocacy.
 FedEx attacks UPS through social media in pushing Senate legislation that would force
FedEx to unionize.
 “Town Hall Forum Goes Awry.” Grassroots roots initiatives know your audience and
have an “exit strategy.”
Two Policy Group Presentations
Week 13: Non-Profit Organizations in the Feasibility Model-Engaging in Public Policy and
Advocacy
Readings:
 Hunger in America. Building a national public awareness campaign after 9/11 to support
relief in America.
 Diabetes Education and Prevention-Challenging “No New Mandates” with Speaker Newt
Gingrich.
 Living Room Politics, chapter 8, Politics and Public Policy.
“Hot Topics” class discussion.
Lectures and class discussion: Non-profits organizations engaged in advocacy and coalition
building.
 Feeding America-creating a national public awareness campaign and building a broad
base coalition to provide hunger relief to millions of Americans unemployed or laid-off
after the attack on 9/11.
 Diabetes Education and Prevention- Building a national coalition and grassroots
campaign for the expansion of Medicare to reimburse nurses and pharmacists. Key
objective was to increase access to health care for the poor, disadvantaged and rural
Americans.
Lecture: Living Room Politics-Rules of Engagement.
Week 14: Equity in public policy and assessing American public policy
Readings:
Readings:
 Achieving Mental Health Parity, Harvard case study
 Assessing American Public Policy, chapter 10, Politics and Public Policy
“Hot Topics” Policy Groups will analyze and make predictions on the final resolution of the
policy issues.
Lecture and class discussion:
 Achieving mental health parity. Case study highlights the long battle to gain passage of
mental health parity legislation in Congress and tactics used to increase public awareness.
Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy makes a very compelling personal case for equity
and the need for mental health parity.
Class lecture and Discussion: Assessing American public policy
Choosing yardsticks and principal policy goals:
 Defending the nation
 Achieving sustained economic growth
 Ensuring equal opportunity
 Providing a safety net
 Protecting the environment and the global climate.
Closing lecture: Major takeaways from the course and the utility of the political feasibility model
in the real world of public policy and politics.
Closing class discussion: Class comments on final exam topics and feedback on course structure,
content and outcomes.
Week 15: Final exam week.