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Course description: For better and worse, the United States stands out in the world in the peculiarity of its public policies. Among the world's wealthy democratic nations, it is only in America that all citizens do not have access to affordable health care; only in America that huge disparities exist in the public education funding for the poor and the rich and only in America that the death penalty prevails. The United States imprisons a higher percentage of its population than any other nation, spends more on national defense, and has among the lowest tax rates in the developed world. In comparison to other nations, the United States spends less on cash welfare, and more on food programs. It is one of few developed nations to not offer paid maternity leave. In these and a great many other policy areas, the United States is exceptional. This phenomenon of "American exceptionalism" raises two fundamental questions that will be the focus of this course: Why are American public policies so different? and, What are the consequences of these peculiar policies? Course objectives: · Develop a familiarity with a wide range of American public policies, and an understanding of the basic choices and ideologies involved in the public debates over these policies. · Understand the broad differences between American social policy and the social policies of other developed democracies. · Develop an understanding of the "specialness" of the United States in comparison to other countries, in terms of policy differences, social structure, the severity of its social problems, popular ideology and government structure. · Acquire and in-depth understanding of a specific social policy issue based on independent research and analysis. · Apply oral and written argumentation and presentation skills to the analysis of policy issues. · Develop an appreciation for the complexity of policy choices and alternative ideological positions offered in support of competing policy proposals. · Apply the principles market failure to the analysis of public policies Assignments, exams and grades:
Assignments:
percent of final grade:
Policy Debate: Each student will debate one policy issue assigned by the instructor. Two students will debate each issue, together they will be responsible for distributing to the class a fact sheet, summarizing the issues, definitions of terms, a history of the legislation, and relevant data.
Policy
analysis papers:
(see
Instructions ). Quizzes: At random times throughout the semester, class will begin with a current events quiz covering events in the news the previous week related to the general course topics. Students should read a variety of news sources, but the material for the quizzes will come from The Chicago Tribune (weblink). There will be five scheduled quizzes on the "independent research" topics indicated in the syllabus.
Participation
and Attendance:
Active
and informed participation in this class is strongly encouraged and in some
circumstances may be a basis for adjusting the final grade. The third,
fifth and seventh absences -- no matter what the reason or excuse -- each
incur a 10% grade penalty. The penalty may reduced by the grade of for a
supplemental 3-page policy analysis paper (e.g., a 90% grade on the paper
reduces the penalty to 1%)
All
the written work submitted for the course must reflect each student’s own
original efforts, any portion of the written assignments, including portions
that may have been prepared by other members of the class, that is not a
student’s own original effort must clearly acknowledge the source. All
instances of plagiarism will be severely penalized and reported to the
Student Judicial Office.
For
purchase:
Week 1: Jan 15. Topic: American Public Policy in a Comparative Perspective
Jean
Hopfensperger, "Eurowelfare, Part 1,
2 and 3," Minneapolis Star Tribune Richard W. Rahn, "Eradicating European Flu Paul Krugman. "French Family Values," Klass notes (powerpoint) Week 2: Jan 22. John Kingdon, America the Unusual, chapters 1, 2 and 3 Week 3: Jan 29.
Week 4: Feb 5. Topic: Principles of Market Failure
Week 5: Feb 12 Topic: Social Welfare COCHRAN, chapt. 7 The Public Agenda webpages: Welfare (read the "overview", "fact file" and especially the complete "framing the debate" sections) welfare reform notes (excel) - additional data (powerpoint) UNICEF, An overview of child well-being in rich countries Week 6: Feb 22.
· Should the United States adopt the Swedish child support policy? · Was the 1996 welfare reform a success or failure? · Should Chicago enact a higher minimum wage on "big box" stores? · Should Illinois adopt a family leave program similar to California's?
Week 7: Feb 27. Week 8: Mar 4. Topic: Education NOTES: Education: What Works? COCHRAN, chapt. 9 The Public Agenda webpages: Education (read the "overview", "fact file" and especially the complete "framing the debate" sections) Week: 9: Mar 18
Week 10: Mar 25 Topic: Immigration COCHRAN, chapt. 11
The
Public Agenda webpages:
Immigration
(read the "overview", "fact file" and especially the
complete "framing the debate" sections) Week 11: April 1.
· Drivers Licenses for Illegal aliens · In-state tuition for illegal aliens · A border fence?
·
Citizenship
for children of illegal immigrants (Citizenship Reform Act of 2005,) Week 12: Apr 8. Topic: Health Care COCHRAN: chapt. 8 (health care slides)
The
Public Agenda webpages:
Health
Care (read the "overview", "fact file" and especially
the complete "framing the debate" sections) Week 13: Apr 15.
(policy analysis paper due Thursday, 12 noon) Week 14: Apr 22 Topic: Budgets and Taxes
Week 15: April 29.
Final
exams: Section 1: Wednesday, May 7, 10am: ;
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