Thesis statement (for Hifsa)

The final exam will be an open book, open notes including the class readings and notes web-based exam. You MUST cite the readings to the extent possible. Without cites and references in your analysis will result a non-passing grade. The exam is going to be in Week 8 and before the end of the course. Students have 3 hours to complete the exam. You can only access the exam once, therefore make sure that you are prepared for taking the exam and save your answers often. If you have questions let me know. The exam is composed of four questions, three involving case studies. I want you to analyze using specific sections of the course. The best study guide is to reviews the weekly Feedback and your weekly papers. The case studies were chosen from a list including Welfare Reform, NCLB, Healthcare, Brady Gun Control, Propositions passed in California, and FMLA Case #1 Is a legislated policy and you are asked to focus your responses on the Week 1 & 2 readings.This will cover Gerston’s Triggering mechanisms, Kingdon Focusing events, Dye’s models from his Chapter 2, Rushefky Chapter 1, and the role of actors involved policy formulation.

Case Study #2 will be a recent piece of legislation.For this question the concepts from the readings that you should review are from Week 3 & 4.This includes Kingdon’s Revised Model (86), the policy communities, policy entrepreneurs, the softening up process, ideas not pressure, criteria for survival, the national mood, Organized political Forces, and consensus building in the political stream. From Dye's Chapter 3 understand The policy process model page 32, elite preference, (35), non-decisions (38), the mass media (39 to 41), and interest group lobbying. From Gerston’s Chapter 3 as the substantive and symbolic agenda (58). Cite the applicable theory in your response. Case Study #3 is a legislated policy that has had mixed reviews.Respond to this question using the Week 5 implementation theory.For this case study you should be comfortable with the implementation concepts of Sabatier, Brewer, Gerston, and Birkland discussed in Week 5. Select the most applicable factors and apply them to the policy. Question #4 deals with the evaluation concepts we have discussed the past two weeks in Week 6 & 7. You should cite at a minimum the theories of Dye, Gerston, Rushefky, and Rossi.

The following areas are suggested for review:

1. Be prepared to discuss the policy models in Dye Chapter 2 and Rushefsky Chapter 1. Focus on the theory of policy process, group, rational, elite, and incremental models.

2. Be able to discuss the three main process streams and explain how they work and the consequence (Kingdon). Be familiar with Gerston's triggering mechanisms and Kingdons's focusing event.

3. Be familiar with Kingdon's Chapter 6 and the particularly the policy communities, fragmentation, softening up, and bandwagons.

4. Be familiar with the role various actors play in policy process both inside of the government and outside. Of particular importance is the role of various interest groups in the policy process.

5. Be sure you understand the perspective of Gerston, Dye, Kingdon, and Rushefsky on the impact of the media and public opinion on public policy.

6. Be able to apple Brewer's, Sabatier's, and Gerston's concepts on policy implementation to a current public policy issue.

7. Understand all aspects of policy evaluation as discussed in Week 7 including the difference between activities and impact, and process and outcomes (Dye, Gerston).