Class Meeting: Monday/Wednesday 7:00-10:00 PM

George Mason University

School of Public Policy

PUBP 710- 001: Topics in Public Management & Policy: Lobbying/Interest Representation

Fall Semester 2002	Wednesdays 7:20 – 10:00	J. T. Hennessey, Jr. Ph.D.
Telephone: 703-993-2271	August 28 – December 7	thenness@gmu.edu

Class Meetings: This class will be conducted in two formats; on-line and face-to-face meetings of the seminar. On-line sessions will be conducted asynchronously utilizing WebCT. Face-to-face meetings will emphasize guest presentations, class discussion, and introduction of materials and topics not suitable for on-line meetings.

Locations for Face-to-Face Class Meetings: Arlington Original Building, Room 268. First class meeting is Wednesday August 28. Other class meetings and locations other than Room 268 are as indicated on the schedule of classes.

Conduct of On-Line Class Meetings: All students enrolled in the course must be “internet proficient,” have an email account and verify their preferred email address(es) with the instructor prior to the end of the first week of class. Subscription to the class website PUAD710-001 is required and will be accomplished not later than the end of Week 1 (September 1). Where possible, the instructor will register all members of the seminar, but it remains the individual student’s responsibility to ensure that they are registered and able to access course materials. A user guide for the course is available at WebCT, the program for all on-line class elements. All course work is assigned and all student evaluations performed via the course Web Site or email. Checking the class website daily is suggested.

Course Description. Interest group representation is an integral part of the study of public policy. As interest groups attempt to have greater influence in the development of public policy, an understanding of the process, techniques, tactics, and strategies associated with the various individuals and groups that conduct interest group representation is required.

Conduct of the Course. The course will be conducted in seminar format with an emphasis on developing a more complete understanding of the various types of interest group representation conducted. This will be accomplished primarily through the use of analysis and interactive assessment of readings and guest presentation/lectures. The course is an integrative series of interest group representation literature and lectures/presentations by members of elected bodies, both state and local, and by those who conduct interest group representation. Class participation is a combination of "on-line dialogue" during each week and presentations during face-to-face seminar meetings. As indicated in the weighting of the grades, participation on the seminar discussion sites and with other members of the seminar, both on-line and in seminar is important.

Course Learning Outcomes. In the course of the term, seminar members should come to understand and appreciate what is required to conduct interest group representation, the types of representation, and the differences between successful and unsuccessful representation.

Course Text and Readings.

Required class texts: Ciglar, A.J. and Burdette, A. L. eds, Interest Group Politics, 6^th Edition, CQ Press, Washington, DC, 2002.

Weekly Assigned Reading. These are found in the schedule of classes and assignments, below. All reading material assigned is available on the website or on electronic reserve through Fenwick Library.

Evaluation for the Course:

Presentations (50%): Two (2) presentations during the term. The first will be an oral presentation in class on October 9. This is 20% of the grade. The final written presentation will be submitted during the last week of the semester and submitted not later than December 4, 2002. That is 30% of the grade. Evaluation criteria for each presentation is found in Appendix #1 to this syllabus.

Class Participation (50%): Individual seminar participation through in-seminar and on-line electronic dialogue. Evaluation criteria for class participation are found as Appendix #2 to this syllabus.

Course Schedule and Assignments

Class Date	Topics and Activities	Assignments
Week 1, AUG 28 Class Meets Arlington Room 268, 7:10 –10:00	Class orientation, review of requirements, and verification of student proficiency for the course	Chapter 1, Interest Group Politics, Chapter 1, The Lobbyists.
Week 2 SEP 4 Class Meets Arlington Room 268, 7:10 –10:00	Guest presentation	Assigned reading appropriate for guest(s)
Week 3 SEP 11 Class Meets Arlington Room 268, 7:10 –10:00	Guest presentation	Assigned reading appropriate for guest(s)
Week 4 SEP 18 Class Meets on line	On line discussions begin	Select one of the two presentations and discuss on-line with the seminar. Read Chaps 2-5, Interest Group Politics for Week 5 discussion.
Week 5 SEP 25 Class Meets on line	On line discussions	Discuss the reading assignment from Week 4. Read Chap 3, Interest Groups. Lobbying, and Participation in America.
Week 6 OCT 2 Class Meets Arlington Room 268, 7:10 –10:00	Guest presentation On line discussions	Discuss the reading assignment for Week 5 and the Guest presentation on-line
Week 7 OCT 9 Class Meets Arlington Room 268, 7:10 –10:00	Mid Term Presentations	None – Read assignment for Week 9 (TBA)
Week 8 Mid Term Break Class does not meet		None
Week 9 OCT 23 Class Meets on line	On line discussions	Discuss the reading assignment midterm presentations and the reading assignment for Week 9 (TBA)
Week 10 OCT 30 Class Meets Arlington Room 268, 7:10 –10:00	Guest presentation On line discussions	Assigned reading appropriate for guest(s). Reading assignment for Week 11 (TBA)
Week 11 NOV 6 Class Meets on line	On line discussions	Discuss guest presentation(s) and reading assignment for Week 11. Reading assignment for Week 12 (TBA)
Week 12 NOV 13 Class Meets Arlington Room 268, 7:10 –10:00	Guest presentation On line discussions	Assigned reading appropriate for guest(s). Reading assignment for Week 13 (TBA)
Week 13 NOV 20 Class meets on line	On line discussions	Final Week of on-line discussion.
Week 14 NOV 27 Class Meets Arlington Room 268, 7:10 –10:00	Feedback session. Course review, analysis, and evaluation.
Finals Week Wednesday, Dec 4, 2002. Class does not meet	Final paper due.	None

Appendix #1: Evaluation Criteria for Oral and Written Work.

Objective Criteria - Oral Presentation. Each student will select a topic from the list in Appendix #3 and discuss that topic with the instructor prior to September 15. Only after the discussion will further work be done on the case. The purpose of the oral presentation is to present an example of interest group representation at either the state or federal level. The presentation will be no less than eight (8) minutes and no more than twelve (12) minutes in length. All visual aids will be provided via email to the instructor no less than 24 hours prior to the presentations. Weighted scores are: 60% content, 40% presentation.

Objective Criteria - Written Presentation. The selection for written presentation will be discussed with the instructor not later than October 23. Each case will be submitted electronically not later than midnight, 11:59 pm, on the date due. Each will be no less than 10 double spaced pages and no more than 12 double-spaced pages of text, less references and citations. When there is a question as to the length, the material will be downloaded, formatted with 1 inch margins, 12 point New Roman type, and paginated. Those exceeding or falling below the requirement will be penalized. All work that is below the standards for graduate school composition will be penalized. This includes spelling, grammar, sentence structure and appropriate use of references and citations.

Subjective Criteria – Oral and Written Presentations. Each presentation, oral and written, will address in an organized, coherent way the following:

· All appropriate elements of representation will be addressed in the presentation. These include, but are not limited to, choosing to act, deciding what to do, choosing tactics, access and influence, fundraising, and organizational type.

· An assessment of the success, or failure, of the effort and sufficient analysis to justify that assessment.

Specificity in covering each of the criterion, using references from the course and material available on each of the cases, is strongly recommended.

Appendix #2: Evaluation Criteria for Class Participation

In on-line discussions and during seminar meetings, each member must demonstrate that the readings assigned have been read and that serious attention has been given to the presentations of guests. Discussion initiated by members, or those in which members participate, should be relevant and include references to the assignments. During discussions, seminar members must demonstrate an understanding of the readings, and, through dialogue, a sincere effort to understand the presentation of the material by the author(s). Irrelevant, derogatory, or otherwise offensive comments will be severely penalized. It must be remembered that successful dialogue depends upon civil discourse at its highest level.

Specific guidelines. On-line participation that includes contributing to at least one of the ongoing discussions each week and initiating a thoughtful discussion each week are the minimum standards for a passing or 80% grade. This means, as a minimum, each member of the seminar will initiate one discussion thread AND make one response to a classmate’s discussion. Those with higher aspirations will be expected to make considerably greater contributions in each area, or significantly more than one weekly initiated discussion and one response to a classmate. Special credit will be given for innovative methods of continuing, expanding, or elaborating on the dialogue. There are eight (8) weeks of on-line participation available. Each member of the seminar may “opt out” of one week. Thus, the grade for on-line participation will be based upon seven (7) weeks of participation or the highest seven weeks of participation.

Face-to-face participation in seminar meetings is less structured than on-line discussions but require that every member of the seminar participate in some manner during the session. Seminar members are expected to participate with guests by seeking clarification, where appropriate, testing prior conclusions, and seeking additional information and insights from guests. Extraneous contributions and/or comments that do not contribute to the discussion will be penalized. There are eight (8) weeks during the term for face-to-face discussions. All eight will be considered part of the class participation evaluation.

Grading Scale:

Guest presentation

Discuss the reading assignment for Week 5 and the Guest presentation on-line

Mid Term Presentations

None

On line discussions

Guest presentation

None