MBU 355 Lobbying Spring 2003 Dr. Roy Littlefield Work-301-390-4405 Home-301-249-1529 [email protected]
SYLLABUS
This course will examine the workings of Congress, techniques and strategies to influence public policy, and the types and availability of work in positions to influence public policy and to affect decision-making. We will consider Congress as an institution—exploring the path of legislation, power centers, and the price of being elected—as well as the administrative and judicial branches. And we will look at the role and power of the bureaucracy.
FORMAT
This course will be a mix or class lectures, student role-playing, and independent observations.
On several occasions one student will present a summary and critiques of one of the chapters in the text we are reading. Summaries should be typed and distributed to each member of the class. Summaries should be limited to 2 single-spaced pages. They should include: (1) a recitation of the theory postulated; (2) a brief description of the methodology (if any) used to test the theory; (3) a discussion of the importance of the chapter for the topic for which it was written; and (4) a critique of the theory, method, style, significance, etc.
Summaries and discussion should be presented orally for about 15 minutes. The student who presents the summary should be prepared to lead a class discussion. It is absolutely essential that the student responsible for the summary bring it to class on the date due and those who are assigned to read a specific chapter read it closely. I will grade the summary and discussion for style and content, checking to see if the student has done the reading, understood it, and expressed the significance of the material clearly and comprehensively.
We will also schedule field trips. These are optional, due to other commitment students may have. But they are intended to “expose” students to the places and activities we will be examining. GRADE
The grade in this course will be determined by 4 scores—the midterm examination (20 percent), the score on your summary and discussion (20 percent), a score on the quality of your discussions on the other readings to demonstrate that you did all of the readings—20 percent), and the final project (40 percent). There is no final examination. The final project will be selected from a choice of over a dozen options, ranging from a traditional research paper, to comparing various branches of government or Congress based on personal observations, to interviewing a lobbyist.
BOOKS
You will be asked to read from the following text:
Rubin, Barry. A Citizen’s Guide to Politics In America: How the System Works and How to Work the System,
SCHEDULE
Wednesday, January 15 Introduction Role of the Lobbyist
Wednesday, January 22 Interest Group Politics Congress in the 21st Century Rubin, Chapter 3
Wednesday, January 29 Path of Legislation Rubin, Capter 2 Rubin, Chapter 4
Wednesday, February 5 CU Capitol Hill Alumni Reception Dirksen Senate Office Building
Tuesday, February 11 Field Trip to Annapolis Afternoon Meetings with the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, State Comptroller Evening Reception for the State Legislature
Wednesday, February 12 Power Centers in Congress Rubin, Chapter 9 Wednesday, February 19 Mock Hearing Rubin, Chapter 8
Tuesday, February 25 Capitol Hill Reception
Wednesday, February 26 Capitol Hill Breakfast Capitol Hill Lobby Day
Wednesday, February 26 Influencing Public Opinion Rubin, Chapter 5
Wednesday, March 5 Spring Break
Wednesday, March 12 Midterm
Wednesday, March 19 Political Action Committees Initiatives and Referenda Rubin, Chapter 12
Wednesday, March 26 Capitol Hill Field Trip
Wednesday, April 2 The Media Rubin, Chapter 6 Rubin, Chapter 7
Wednesday, April 9 Grassroots Mobilization Rubin, Chapter 10 Rubin, Chapter 13
Wednesday, April 16 Lobbying Federal Regulatory Agencies Lobbying the President Lobbying through the Court System Laws and Regulations on Lobbying
Wednesday, April 23 Lobbying as a Profession The Future of Lobbying Rubin, Chapter 11 Rubin, Chapter 14
Wednesday, April 30 Final Presentations