This course introduces students to the unique process by which American governments develop policies to address the nation's most significant problems. In addition to studying specific policy issues, students will read about Congress and the presidency, political parties, elections, ideologies, the role of media and the psychology of politics. Each student will research one policy issue and make a formal presentation to the class. This course may incorporate a service-learning component as an aspect of the final project. History 550 cannot be substituted for the required 400-level U.S. requirement, or the non-U.S. history requirement.