Policy and action recommendation for the President
What: Recommend a policy and action for the President
This paper will give you a chance to get into some depth regarding the President’s role in the contemporary political system. You will choose a current event topic where some policy solution might legitimately involve the executive branch – foreign policy matters (the Iranian nuclear deal?), domestic policy (health care, some particular environmental issues?) – it’s your choice and there are lots of great policy topics. Ask me if you want some help narrowing something down.
Now, imagine you are an advisor to the President (this one, or some imaginary other President if you prefer). It’s your job to brief the President and recommend a course of (executive) action. Detail the context of the event in question and the options for the presidential action. What part of the executive branch could act? And what could they do? And what obstacles exist to this action for the President? Think of it as an assessment of the potential opportunities available to a President and a cost-benefit analysis of any actions they might take.
Once you’ve worked through these details, offer your own recommendation of a course of action for the executive branch (or, perhaps a rationale for inaction?). Finally, since Presidents care about their legacy – put a historical trajectory on this possible action (or inaction). Does this situation look like a similar one faced by a President in history? And are there lessons to be learned from this prior Presidential action? How should the President want to be remembered in responding to this policy area? And why will your recommended course of action accomplish the best possible outcome for the President in the broadest sense?
Why: This assignment is meant to give you a chance to thoroughly and completely work through the President/executive branch role in making policy in the U.S. system, while also applying some historical knowledge about how this role has shifted and changed in recent times. It should be an opportunity to apply a great deal of the course material – hopefully in a fun and interesting way.
How: Papers should be 8-12 pages, typed, double-spaced with standard fonts and margins. They should be uploaded to Canvas by the due date.
