Policy Time

Policy Time is about the policy choices faced by senior American policymakers. Our main perspective is American and executive: decisions faced by the U.S. President, Governors, and their advisors. The lessons can extend to certain international settings as well. We have two main goals:1. To begin to build your personal policy approach, in which you will figure out how your values translate into real-world policy choices; and 2. To learn what it is like to be a senior policymaker. ne session per week will be a lecture and discussion of a particular policy issue. The second session each week will be a small group meeting (4-6 students per group each week, with different groups each week) to wrestle with difficult policy choices and trade-offs. We will use policy "worksheets" as a tool to focus your thought process, frame the small-group discussions, and drive you to make hard choices. You will write 5-10 weekly short memos to explain your choices. Each week will cover a different policy topic. Likely topics include immigration reform, economics, climate change, and the role of the corporation in a capitalist economy. Our exact topic schedule is flexible based in part on current events.