PUBPL483

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Note that assignments are due based on the Eastern Time zone (EST or EDT). This ensures that all students have the same deadlines regardless of where they live.

Course length: 12 weeks

Course Orientation

Week 1
Timeframe:	NOTE: This time frame includes two lessons. Please refer to the next lesson for additional readings and activities due.
Readings:	Course Introduction lessons
Assignments:	None

Lesson 1: Introduction and Context of Security Policy

Week 1
Timeframe:
Readings:	Textbook Sarkesian, Sam C., Williams, John Allen, and Cimbala, Stephen J. US National Security. Fifth Edition, Rienner Publishers, Inc., 2012. pp. 1 - 20, 45 - 71. Whittaker, Alan G., Brown, Shannon A., Smith, Frederick C., & McKune, Elizabeth (2011). The National Security Policy Process: The National Security Council and Interagency System. (Research Report, August 15, 2011, Annual Update). Washington, D.C.: Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, U.S. Department of Defense. pp 5-6 Other Readings National Security Strategy of 2017 National Security Presidential Memorandum - 4 (April 4, 2017). National Military Strategy of the United States of America 2015 (skim) The 2014 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (pp.5-61, 81-82, skim remainder) Declaration of Independence, focusing on basic rights, and abuses US Constitution, Preamble, Art I sec. 8 and Art II Federalist Papers, Numbers 3, 23, 41, 43, 45 and 78. Anti-Federalist Paper, Constitution Society
Assignments:	Written Assignment: Describe the key concerns the Framers of the Constitution were addressing and the main dangers they were trying to avoid. Submit your thoughts in two paragraphs.

Lesson 2: Origins and Attributes and History of the Process

Week 2
Timeframe:
Readings:	Textbook Sarkesian, Sam C., Williams, John Allen, and Cimbala, Stephen J. US National Security. Fifth Edition, Rienner Publishers, Inc., 2012. pp. 91 - 105. Whittaker, Alan G., Brown, Shannon A., Smith, Frederick C., & McKune, Elizabeth (2011). The National Security Policy Process: The National Security Council and Interagency System. (Research Report, August 15, 2011 Annual Update). Washington, D.C.: Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, U.S. Department of Defense. pp. 6-12. Other Readings Introductory comments U.S. Constitution Federalist Papers, Number 10, 51 National Security Council Overview Presidential Policy Directive 1
Assignments:	Written Assignment: Decide whether an inefficient system of decision making, resulting from limited government, with checks and balances, as envisioned by the Framers and as evolved by numerous statutes and directives is in the best interest of the nation. Post your comments consisting of at least two paragraphs.

Lesson 3: The Process in Theory: Concepts and Models of Policy Making

Week 3
Timeframe:
Readings:	Textbook US National Security 199 - 209 Other Readings Introductory comments Allison and the Cuban Missile Crisis PDF The Essence of Decision PDF
Assignments:	Written Assignment: Describe your perspective of how you might function in a policy-making environment, as to whether you consider yourself to be a rational actor. Submit your perspective in two paragraphs.

Lesson 4: The Process in Practice: The Presidency and National Security

Week 4
Timeframe:
Readings:	Textbook The Presidency and the National Security Process US National Security 109 - 131 Whittaker, Alan G., Brown, Shannon A., Smith, Frederick C., & McKune, Elizabeth (2011). The National Security Policy Process: The National Security Council and Interagency System. (Research Report, August 15, 2011 Annual Update). Washington, D.C.: Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, U.S. Department of Defense. pp. 12-24. Other Readings Introductory comments PSD 1 PPD 1
Assignments:	Written Assignment: Describe the line of authority for security policy from the President to your agency and list the membership by title of your agency in the inter-agency system. Submit your postings in two paragraphs.

Lesson 5: Statutory Members of the NSC

Week 5
Timeframe:
Readings:	Textbook The policy triad and the NSC: The National Security Advisor, Department of State, and Office of the Secretary of Defense, US National Security 138 - 157. Whittaker, Alan G., Brown, Shannon A., Smith, Frederick C., & McKune, Elizabeth (2011). The National Security Policy Process: The National Security Council and Interagency System. (Research Report, August 15, 2011 Annual Update). Washington, D.C.: Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, U.S. Department of Defense. pp. 44-57. Other Readings Introductory comments
Assignments:	Written Assignment: List five issues of homeland security about which to brief the President. Submit your issues.

Lesson 6: Statutory Advisors to the NSC

Week 6
Timeframe:
Readings:	Textbook The military establishment and the chain of command, US National Security 159 - 175 The intelligence community, US National Security 177 - 196. Whittaker, Alan G., Brown, Shannon A., Smith, Frederick C., & McKune, Elizabeth (2011). The National Security Policy Process: The National Security Council and Interagency System. (Research Report, August 15, 2011 Annual Update). Washington, D.C.: Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, U.S. Department of Defense. pp. 48-65. Other Readings Introductory comments Executive Order 12333
Assignments:	Written Assignment: Write an op-ed on the current state of the national security process. Submit your op-ed piece.

Lesson 7: Congress

Week 7
Timeframe:
Readings:	Textbook US National Security 211-227 Other Readings Introductory comments
Assignments:	Written Assignment: Report on an oversight hearing on the Mexican border, from a Committee or SubCommittee in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Submit your 2 page report.

Lesson 8: Media, Interest Groups, and Public Opinion

Week 8 and 9
Timeframe:
Readings:	Textbook US National Security 229-256 Other Readings Introductory comments Overview: Stages I-VI of the Interagency Exercise
Assignments:	Complete Interagency Exercise Stage I: PSD Exercise Stage I: Complete Stage I of the Interagency Exercise to Draft a PSD. Submit your agency's PSD. Written Assignment: Individually prepare a press release on the Mexican border issue. Submit your press release.

Lesson 9: Global Context/IPC Meeting

Week 10
Timeframe:
Readings:	Textbook US National Security 23-43 Whittaker, Alan G., Brown, Shannon A., Smith, Frederick C., & McKune, Elizabeth (2011). The National Security Policy Process: The National Security Council and Interagency System. (Research Report, August 15, 2011 Annual Update). Washington, D.C.: Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, U.S. Department of Defense. pp. 34-44. Other Readings Introductory comments The NSC Executive Secretary's Weekly Memo
Assignments:	Complete Interagency Exercise Stage II: IPC Talking Points Exercise Stage II: Work within your agency to complete Stage II of the Interagency Exercise by drafting talking points for and attending an IPC meeting. Post your agency's talking points.

Lesson 10: The Process in Practice/DC Meeting

Week 11
Timeframe:
Readings:	Textbook US National Security 273-303 Whittaker, Alan G., Brown, Shannon A., Smith, Frederick C., & McKune, Elizabeth (2011). The National Security Policy Process: The National Security Council and Interagency System. (Research Report, August 15, 2011 Annual Update). Washington, D.C.: Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, U.S. Department of Defense. pp. 31-34. Other Readings Introductory comments The NSC Executive Secretary's Weekly Memo
Assignments:	Complete Interagency Exercise Stage III: DC Talking Points Exercise Stage III: Work within in your agency to complete Stage III of the Interagency Exercise by drafting talking points for and attend an DC meeting. Post your agency's talking points.

Lesson 11: Amendments and Modifications to the Process/PC

Week 12
Timeframe:
Readings:	Textbook US National Security 305-323 Whittaker, Alan G., Brown, Shannon A., Smith, Frederick C., & McKune, Elizabeth (2011). The National Security Policy Process: The National Security Council and Interagency System. (Research Report, August 15, 2011 Annual Update). Washington, D.C.: Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, U.S. Department of Defense. pp. 31-34. Other Readings Introductory comments The NSC Executive Secretary's Weekly Memo
Assignments:	Complete Interagency Exercise Stage IV: PC Talking Points Exercise Stage IV: Work within your agency to complete Stage IV of the Interagency Exercise by drafting talking points for and attending a Principle's Committee meeting. Post your agency's talking points.

Lesson 12: Role Playing Exercise/NSC Meeting

Week 13
Timeframe:
Readings:	Textbook Whittaker, Alan G., Brown, Shannon A., Smith, Frederick C., & McKune, Elizabeth (2011). The National Security Policy Process: The National Security Council and Interagency System. (Research Report, August 15, 2011 Annual Update). Washington, D.C.: Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, U.S. Department of Defense. pp. 19-31. Other Readings Introductory comments Deputies Committee Memo on the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review The NSC Executive Secretary's Weekly Memo
Assignments:	Complete Interagency Exercise Stage V: NSC Talking Points Exercise Stage V: Work within your agency to complete Stage V of the Interagency Exercise by drafting talking points for and attending an NSC meeting. Post your agency's talking points.

Lesson 13: Presentations of Framework and PPD

Week 15 and 16
Timeframe:
Readings:	Textbook US National Security 23-43 Whittaker, Alan G., Brown, Shannon A., Smith, Frederick C., & McKune, Elizabeth (2011). The National Security Policy Process: The National Security Council and Interagency System. (Research Report, August 15, 2011 Annual Update). Washington, D.C.: Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, U.S. Department of Defense. pp. 34-44. Other Readings Introductory comments The NSC Executive Secretary's Weekly Memo
Assignments:	Complete Interagency Exercise Stage VI: Draft PPD Exercise Stage VI: Work within your agency to complete Stage VI of the Interagency Exercise by presenting a final PPD for the President to communicate his decision. Post the PPD in the PPD drop box. Complete Personal Framework Also finalize your own personal framework for decision/policy making. Post your framework to the Lesson 13 Policy Framework drop box.