SYLLABUS

Law and Public Policy

(834:503)



Instructor: Dr. Richard Harris

Office: Room 106, 401 Cooper St.

Hours: Tue. & Wed. 4:30 – 5:30

Phone: 225-6082/ext. 24

E-mail: raharris@camden.rutgers.edu
 
 
 
 

In this course we will examine the role of administrative law and procedures in American Politics. Put another way, we will be looking at the role of the state and the federal bureaucracy in determining who wins and who loses in American Politics. As we will see, much of the real action (legislative, executive and judicial) in Washington D.C. and in Trenton either stems from or directly involves administrators who operate under very specific legal guidelines.

Indeed, anyone who wants to achieve a public policy goal and does not understand administrative law and procedure is likely to fail. Conversely, those who do understand are at a tremendous advantage in accomplishing their aims; or thwarting the efforts of their opponents. Unfortunately, the media rarely examine the political struggles that take place after a law is passed or a court decision is rendered: these, however, are struggles that can truly shape public policy. These struggles and the ground rules under which they are waged are the subject matter of this course.

Required Texts:

Public Policymaking, James Anderson

Administrative Law in the Political System, Kenneth Warren

Rulemaking, Cornelius Kerwin
 
 

Course Requirement:

  1. There will be one midterm exam that will be a take-home exercise. It will be all essay.
  2. There will be a final exam that also will be a take-home exercise.
  3. There will be a team project due on the last day of class. Please see the separate handout on that assignment.
All exams must be submitted in on the date that they are due, unless you receive permission, in advance, for a late submission. A penalty of a full letter grade will be assessed for late exams. All exams will be graded and returned in one week. Students are encouraged to review their graded exams and discuss them with me during office hours. We can also exchange thoughts via e-mail which I check regularly.

COURSE OUTLINE

Introduction

    1. Organization and American Political Development
    2. Library and Team Meeting
    3. Foundations of Policymaking


      4. Anderson 1 - 4

    4. Evaluating Public Policy
Anderson 5 – 7
EXAM #1 Team Meeting



Understanding Administrative Law

    1. Our System of Administrative Law


      2. Warren 1 & 2

    2. Scope and Development


      3. Warren 3

    3. Nuts & Bolts of Rulemaking


      4. Warren 5 & 6;

    4. Rulemaking Continued


      5. Kerwin 1 – 3

    5. Administrative Law in Action
Kerwin 3 – 5; Warren 7
 
  Democracy and Oversight
    1. Legislative and Executive Oversight


      2. Kerwin 6 & 7; Warren 3 & 8

    2. Accountability to the People
Warren 9 &10; Kerwin 7;

TEAM MEETINGS


CLASS PRESENTATIONS

FINAL EXAM