According to the University of Southern California, “a policy memo is a practical, professionally written document that can vary in length from one page to over one hundred pages (USC, 2021).” Additionally, “it provides analysis and/or recommendations directed to a predetermined audience regarding a specific situation, topic, or issue (USC, 2021).” For this policy memo, students will imagine themselves holding a position on President Biden’s National Security Council as a National Security Council staff member. By being a member of the National Security Council team, the President of the United States and the American people are counting on you to provide a policy memo that is accurate, timely, and actionable. That is, your policy memo will inform and help guide United States foreign policy in the future so, ensure to bring your intellectual capabilities and acute analysis to the West Wing of the White House.
Students will select a topic from the list below and write a policy memo directed to the President of the United States. In this policy memo, students will assess the problem (taking a historical approach in explaining the issue) and provide recommendations in resolving the issue (go through a detailed analysis in explaining the why should and how to) (MIT:OCW, 2018).
THE TOPIC IS: Migration / Immigration
RECOMMENDED STRUCTURE:
- Summary: identify the topic selected and explain how this is a problem in the international system [no less than 50 words]
- Background: explain how this issue has affected the United States and the international system by taking a historical approach (how as the U.S. responded to this issue in the past and etc.) [no less than 150 words]
- Analysis: based on your expert knowledge, what is currently working to solve the issue; what is not currently working to resolve the issue, what organizations and countries are working to resolve this issue, [no less than 150 words]
- Recommendation: based on your expert knowledge, what should the policy be going forward, in what way should the United States approach the international system in resolving the issue or should the United States go at in alone, are there going to be any pushback from other countries or the American people (and what are the reasons for the opposition) [no less than 150 words]
