Parameters for Memo

Parameters for Memo # 3 Due Electronically Before Class Begins The first two memos required that you retrospectively evaluate a policy change and then prospectively plan another . This final memo asks you the ea siest question of all – why do current system s function the way that they do ? Th e s e type s of analyses often accompany public and private sector reports as reference pieces, or are introduced into court proceedings as statements of uncontroverted fact. Whereas retrospective and prospective analyses require you to guess at circumstances, motivations, and past/future events, this memo allows you to focus exclusively on what is known. That makes it straightforward, but also means that your clients can easily tell if you make a mistake . Assume that I am a new US senator from California (where I had been a state legislator for the last 10 years) and was just assigned to the US Senate Select Committee on Ethics ( http://www.ethic s.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/ ). My first task is to understand when and how business interests (and other resource - rich groups) have an advantage in the competition s for federal policy. I n particular, I need an analysis explaining whether the patterns o f success and failure for resource - rich vs. resource - poor groups are different in Washington DC when compared to California’s s tate government (in Sacramento). My suspicion is that direct democracy might matter, but I am not sure. I ask you, my superanalyst, to generate a memo analyzing the question above. Y ou are very busy near the end of the semester legislative session , so time is limited. Fortunately, you have recently read two excellent books on this topic. So lucky! You realize that by simply using these two source texts you can generate a reasonable analysis for me very quickly. In this memo you will: • Use the Baumgartner and Gerber texts to support your analysis . For the purposes of this memo, be sure to provide the text and page numb er for each citation. You do not need to use other sources, but if you do, cit e those in the same way . • Specify which parts of the federal and state institutional structures and systems drive the result. Explain how and why. • This is a nuanced argument – i t is not enough to say : “business always wins in Washington and loses in Sacramento.” You would need to explain the mechanism for success in Washington, the barriers to success in Sacramento, the government structures that drive success/failure, etc. I n eed to understand how the institutions in both governments affect the influence of money on policy. The memo must not exceed five pages in length. U se one - inch margins, single - spaced, Times New Roman, 12 - point font, and footnotes. I will deduct one point for every error in grammar and inconsistency in formatting. I will remove a letter grade if the paper is not turned in on time, and then another letter grade for every additional hour it is late. I recommend generating a pdf of the memo to ensure f ormatting errors do not occur during the transmission/translation of the file. ! Required Text: 1.    Baumgartner, Frank et al. 2009. Lobbying and Policy Change. Chicago Press. ? 2.    Gerber, Elisabeth. 1999. The Populist Paradox. Princeton Press. ? PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET AN AMAZING DISCOUNT :)