Washington Policymaking: A USER'S GUIDE

Catalog description

Whiplash! Over the past decade, the Presidency has flipped each election, and Congress has gone from unified (Republican), divided, unified (Democratic), divided and now unified (Republican again). There's been an explosion of Executive Orders, major legislation (both partisan and bipartisan), Court Challenges, Congressional Oversight, and significant regulatory changes. The new Administration has moved at an unprecedented pace and manner to transform government and national policy. Given all of this, how much has the policymaking process changed, and importantly what will it be going forward? In this class, students will learn the advocacy and strategy tools needed to participate effectively in Washington legislative and regulatory policymaking; as well as related issues such as Money in Politics, and the Influence Industry. We will examine both the nuts-and-bolts and the complex intricacies of policy development at the federal level, considering current and rapidly evolving topics as examples, while also drawing on historical precedents. While you're living and working in Washington, we'll learn together the ways of Washington. This course is offered in person in Washington, D.C. only to students who are participating in the Bing Stanford in Washington Program.