This course will provide a detailed perspective and analytic understanding of Federal policy formulation, strategies, and the interactions between and among Federal officials and the affected stakeholder groups. The course will offer insights regarding how the grand bargains are "worked out." Three national policy issues energy/environmental security, national security, and health care provision will be analyzed. Two of the key topics that, the class will be actively examining, energy and health care, are the looming challenges of future budget deficits and the opportunities for economic growth. To provide a detailed understanding of the fiscal and management connections to each of these issues, the class will cover the methods and practices of economic projections, budgetary scorekeeping, and performance metrics. The class will take advantage of "real-time" progress the Administration and Congress are making on major pieces of legislation, focusing on policy development and the collaboration required to enact significant legislation including the forming of coalitions and the role of "interested" parties. An assigned group project will analyze a major Federal policy issue and ascertain the impacts this issue would have on the general economy as well as specific sectors of the economy.
