This course provides MPA students with foundational skills in two critical and related areas: (1) analyzing how political considerations affect policy choices; and (2) writing about policy issues for political audiences. The first half of the course presents a series of conceptual frameworks, looking at how public institutions respond to interest groups, issues of identity, and the role of public opinion. These topics will largely, though not entirely, be examined through a U.S. lens. The second half of the course broadens the scope to a global context, examining topics such as political regimes & democracy, international organizations, and human rights. The course also addresses cross-cutting issues of implementation, leadership, and ethics.