Political Studies 330a
TOPICS IN U.S. PUBLIC POLICY
Winter 2009
Mon. & Wed. 16:30 – 18:00
Rm: N109
Dr. Stritch
Room: N202
Off. Hrs.: Mon&Wed. 15:00 – 16:30
or by appointment
This course examines a wide variety of controversial issues in contemporary
American politics. It is designed to provide students with an awareness of the main lines of
intellectual and political cleavage on each of these issues, as well as helping students to
analyze alternatives and develop their own views. Topics include the housing crisis, the
financial bailout, oil policy, America’s response to globalization, crime, capital punishment,
drug use, gun control, hate speech, domestic spying, the Iraq occupation, policy towards
Iran, immigration, global warming, abortion, assisted suicide, poverty, social security and
health care.
The course is taught on a seminar basis and requires all students to do some
reading each week in order to prepare for the classes. During the course of the term,
everyone will be required to make a short oral presentation (approximately 10 minutes) to
introduce one of the topics. Discussion will then be opened up to all students and everyone
will be expected to participate fully. A few topics will be discussed in “open forum” sessions
where there will be no presentations and where discussions may be preceded by some
audio-visual material. One of these sessions will take place on the day following President
Obama’s inauguration and will examine the policy agenda for the new Administration.
In addition to presentations in class and overall participation, students will be
expected to write a term paper of 2,500 words on a topic covered in the course. The essay
should pursue a clear line of argument and advocate a coherent policy direction supported
by available evidence. It should be typed, double-spaced, and should include proper
footnoting and a full bibliography.
The term paper is due in class on Monday, March 23rd.
Four marks per day (including holidays and weekends) will be deducted for
written work that is late. Any work more than five days late will not be accepted.
Extensions will only be granted on medical or compassionate grounds, and you will require
a doctor's note explaining why you were unable to complete the work on time. Extensions
will not be granted for time-management problems or for failures of word-processors,
computer printers, etc.
N.B. Plagiarism and academic dishonesty are serious offences with serious penalties.
Please read the attached warning and the relevant sections of the Academic Calendar.
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There will also be a final exam in the spring.
The marking scheme is as follows:
Presentations
15%
Participation
15%
Term Paper (Mar. 23)
30%
Final Exam
40%
TOPICS AND READINGS
The required text for this course consists of a selection of recent articles from CQ
(Congressional Quarterly) Researcher which have been put together as Issues for Debate in
American Public Policy. This is available in the bookstore. Other readings will be placed on
reserve in the library.
Weeks 1 and 2 (Jan. 12 – 19) – Introduction to the U.S Policymaking System
B. Guy Peters, American Public Policy, 7th ed, Chs. 1 & 2.
Wednesday, Jan. 21 – Open Forum: The Obama Agenda
Michael Grunwald, “The New Agenda”, Time (Nov. 17, 2008).
“Obama’s World”, Economist (Nov. 8, 2008)
“Wolves at the Door”, Economist (Nov. 8, 2008)
Richard Holbrooke, “The Next President: Mastering a Daunting Agenda”, Foreign
Affairs, (Sept/Oct. 2008).
PART I – ECONOMIC ISSUES
Week 3 (Jan. 26 – 30)
Monday: Housing Crisis
CQ Researcher, “Mortgage Crisis”.
Wednesday: Financial Bailout
CQ Researcher, “Financial Bailout”.
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Week 4 (Feb. 2 - 6)
Monday: Oil Policy
CQ Researcher, “Oil Jitters”.
Wednesday: Globalization
CQ Researcher, “Emerging China”.
PART 2 – CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
Week 5 (Feb. 9 – 13)
Monday: Crime
CQ Researcher, “Fighting Crime”.
Wednesday: Capital Punishment
CQ Researcher, “Death Penalty Controversies”.
Week 6 (Feb. 16 – 20)
Monday: Drug Use
CQ Researcher, “War on Drugs”.
Wednesday: Gun Control
CQ Researcher, “Gun Violence”.
Week 7 (Feb. 23 – 27)
Monday: Hate Speech
Marcia Clemitt, Hate Speech”, CQ Researcher, June 1, 2007 (on reserve).
Wednesday: Open Forum: Domestic Spying
Stephen Schulhofer, “The Patriot Act and the Surveillance Society”, in R. Leone
and Greg Anrig (eds.), Liberty Under Attack.
Reading Week – March 2 – 6
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PART 3 – INTERNATIONAL ISSUES
Week 8 (March 9 – 13)
Monday: Open Forum: The Iraq Occupation
Stephen Biddle, et. al. “How to Leave A Stable Iraq”, Foreign Affairs, (Sept./Oct.
2008).
Wednesday: Policy Towards Iran
CQ Researcher, “U.S. Policy on Iran”.
Week 9 (March 16 – 20)
Monday: Immigration
CQ Researcher, “Immigration Debate”.
Wednesday: Open Forum: Global Warming
CQ Researcher, “Climate Change”.
PART 4 SOCIAL ISSUES
Essay due Monday, March 23.
Week 10 (March 23 – 27)
Monday: Abortion
CQ Researcher, “Abortion Showdowns”.
Wednesday: Assisted Suicide
CQ Researcher, “Right to Die”.
Week 11 (March 30 – April 3)
Monday: Poverty and Welfare
CQ Researcher, “Domestic Poverty”.
Wednesday: Social Security
Mary H. Cooper, “Social Security Reform”, CQ Researcher, September 24, 2004
(on reserve).
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Week 12 (April 6 – 8)
Monday: Open Forum: Health Care
CQ Researcher, “Universal Coverage”.
Wednesday: Course Review
PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Plagiarism and academic dishonesty are serious offenses. Please read the
following regulations from the Academic Calendar:
The University takes a serious view of any form of academic dishonesty, such as
plagiarism; submission of work for which credit has already been received;
cheating; impersonating another student; falsification or fabrication of data;
acquisition of confidential materials, e.g. examination papers; misrepresentation
of facts; altering transcripts or other official documents…penalties may include a
zero grade in the course, suspension for one semester or longer, or expulsion
from the University.
If you have any questions please ask your instructor.
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