Public Policy Analysis & Decision-making Course Information: Spring 2016: Course 90-886 W4, 6 Units Location: Heinz College Washington DC Offices Meeting Times: Wednesdays 6:00-8:50PM Faculty: Moshe Schwartz Phone: TBD Prerequisites: None Home mosheschwartzemail@gmail.com Office Hours: By Appointment Course Description: This course will explore how to conduct complex (and concise) policy analysis that can be used to inform decision-makers, using the prism of policy analysis for Congress. The first part of the course will focus on the roles, interests, and operations of Congress and how it fits into the variety of governmental organizational settings. The class will then focus on learning how to develop non-partisan policy analysis on complex public policy issues. The first case study will be the use of contractors to support military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The second case study will be developing a regulatory framework for the public use of autonomous vehicles in the United States. Students are required to complete the following papers/presentations: 1. A 2-5 page individual narrow analysis of a particular aspect of the use of contractors on the battlefield (i.e. legal, economic, political, or military strategy analysis). This is an individual project and represents 20% of the final grade. Due Date April 19 th. 2. A 10-18 page team paper. This team paper will include a brief introduction outlining the issue (not to exceed one page), each team member s individual analysis of an aspect of the issue (i.e. legal, economic, political, or military strategy analysis), and a summary that provides public policy recommendations on the issue (not to exceed one page). Due Date April 26 th. 3. A 2-3 page research plan on how you would pursue an analysis on autonomous vehicles. Due Date May 3 rd. 4. A final presentation. This presentation will be a legislative or regulatory proposal for either contractors on the battlefield or autonomous vehicles (at the student s discretion).
The presentation may consist of up to 3 slides or a 1 page paper (single-sided). The presentation should include: a. A perceived problem b. A discussion on how to fix the problem c. Draft of regulatory or legislative language that would enact the identified fix. Course Objectives: This course has three objectives: 1. To understand the role and interests of Congress and how Congress operates within the public policy process; 2. To learn how to conduct complex public policy analysis (taking into consideration legal, social, political, policy and other considerations); and 3. To learn how to transition from research and analysis to conceptualizing and developing new legislation and public policy including the regulatory process. Course Organization: Web site: This course will use the Blackboard system (http://www.cmu.edu/blackboard/). As of the first day of class, all registered students should have complete access to the course web site. Important class information, including readings, deadlines, and requirements will be distributed regularly via this web site. Class participation: Class discussions are an integral part of the course, and class participation will account for 10% of the total grade. To receive full credit for this portion of the grade, students must consistently demonstrate through participation in class discussions that they have completed the required readings and thought through the issues in advance of the class. In-class expectations: All class discussions will adhere strictly to Chatham House rules. No student may record or tape any classroom activity without the express written consent of this instructor. If a student believes that he/she is disabled and needs to record or tape classroom activities, he/she should contact the Office of Disability Resources to request an appropriate accommodation. During class, please turn off all smart phones or other such devices. Laptops cannot be used except for taking notes. Papers and Presentations: There will be two graded papers, a graded research plan for a notional paper on autonomous vehicles, and a graded final oral presentation, as indicated in the next section. Grading Summary: Individual analysis paper 1 20% Team paper 1 20% Research plan paper 2 20% Final Presentation 30% Participation 10% Course Materials See Syllabus, below for required readings.
Course Schedule Course Outline: Date Class Reading assignments (prior class) March 22 March 29 April 5 April 12 L1 Introduction to Congress This class will focus on the role, power, and operations of the United States Congress. The class will also explore the internal and external factors influencing Congressional action. L2 What is Complex Policy Analysis? This part of the class will focus on how to consider and construct nonpartisan (or when desired, specifically partisan) public policy analysis. L3 Introduction to Contractors on the Battlefield This part of the class will provide an introduction to the Department of Defense and factors that led to the military s use of contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. Optional due date for instructor feedback: 2-3 page research plan (template to be provided), including which team members will cover what topics (teams of 3-6 people) L4 Crafting Policy on Contractors to support Military Operations U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 7-10 Earmarks and the National Interest, Chapter 4 Robert Higgs, Hard Coals Make Bad Law: Congressional Parochialism Versus National Defense, Cato Journal, Spring/Summer 1988, pp. 79-106 Skim These CRS Report R42843, Introduction to the Legislative Process in the U.S. Congress, Valerie Heitshusen Jeff Bingaman, The 12th Annual Gilbert A. Cuneo Lecture: The Origins and Development of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act, Military Law Review, Summer 1994, pp. 149-165. Robert F. Hale, Promoting Efficiency in the Department of Defense: Keep Trying, But Be Realistic, CSBA CRS Report R44329, Using Data to Improve Defense Acquisitions: Background, Analysis, and Questions for Congress, Moshe Schwartz (an example of long-form analysis) CRS In Focus IF10365, End-Year DOD Contract Spending, Moshe Schwartz, Gabriel M. Nelson (an example of shortform analysis) Review Research Plans DOD Legal Opinion: request to Contract for Private Security in Iraq COMISAF s Counterinsurgency Contracting Guidance, General David Petreus DOD Memorandum: Increased Employment of Iraqi Citizens through Command Contracts GAO Report, Rebuilding Iraq: Actions Needed To Improve Use of Private Security Providers, GAO-05-737, Jul 28, 2005. Remember Them, Too; Don't Contractors Count When We Calculate the Costs of War?, Steven Schooner, The Washington Post CRS Report R40764, Department of Defense Contractors in Afghanistan and Iraq: Background and Analysis, Moshe Schwartz, Joyprada Swain CRS Report R42084, Wartime Contracting in Afghanistan: Analysis and Issues for Congress, Moshe Schwartz
April 19 Optional due date for instructor feedback: Problem Statements global and by topic L5 Autonomous Vehicles This class will explore the public policy considerations relevant to the emerging issue of autonomous vehicles. CRS Report R43074, Department of Defense s Use of Contractors to Support Military Operations: Background, Analysis, and Issues for Congress What are the public policy questions? April 26 Due: 2-5 page individual narrow analysis paper with conclusion L6 Autonomous Vehicles cont... This class will continue to discuss and parse the issues related to autonomous vehicles. Students should come to class having made significant research headway on their paper. vehicles. How can we research the public policy issues surrounding autonomous vehicles? - What sources are available - What data are available - Who should we speak to - Who are the relevant stakeholders May 3 Due: Team paper (10-18 pages) L7 Part I - The regulator Process Part II Advisory Panels and Commissions The regulatory process Advisory Panels and Commissions May 10 Due: 2-3 page research plan on autonomous vehicles L8 Presentation & Out-Brief Students give briefings. The briefing will be a legislative or regulatory proposal for either contractors on the battlefield or autonomous vehicles. Presentation may be up to 3 slides or 1 page (double-sided). Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend all classes. However, there can be unforeseen circumstances and emergencies that arise. Students may be granted one excused absence for the course which could include an illness or personal emergency (you need to contact me within 1-2 days of missing class if not sooner in order to be excused) or an apprenticeship-related travel/opportunity that is worked out with me in advance of the missed class. After the one excused absence, or for any unexcused absences, the student can choose to submit a make-up paper (due within two weeks of the missed class) OR receive a 0 for their participation grade for each missed class which will factor into the student s final grade for the course. The student should contact me to work out the topic for the paper. Please note that even if a student misses a class (whether excused or unexcused), assignments
due for that day must still be completed and handed in. Under certain circumstances, such as illness of the student, the instructor may grant extensions to due dates. Academic Conduct: Students are subject to Carnegie Mellon University s policies on academic integrity (http://www.cmu.edu/academic-integrity/plagiarism/index.html). Plagiarism is a serious offense that will result in the student failing the course. Note that all academic integrity violations will be reported to the Associate Dean. Additional penalties may be imposed. Plagiarism includes: o Presenting another writer s work as your own; o Cutting and pasting content verbatim without using quotation marks to indicate a direct quote; o Inserting a direct quote or paraphrasing content without citing the source in-text using footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical citations with a corresponding Works Cited, References, or Notes page in a manner consistent with an APA, MLA, or Chicago style guide; o Providing incomplete or incorrect information about the source cited; o Over-relying on templates or other writers phrasing. o Also, submitting work written for another course is not acceptable; consequently, a failing grade will be issued for that assignment. # # #