This course provides a basic knowledge of United States (U.S.) policy and law as it applies to management and administration of forests and related natural resources on public and private land. Topics include the sources, development, and analysis of relevant laws, administrative regulations, and other policies. Judicial decisions addressing the management of National Forests, biodiversity, wildlife and water resources, and other specific issues will be discussed. The course is composed of four sections. First, we will examine the political processes that distribute and allocate power and resources in the United States. The second section addresses the participants in the policy process. These include the three branches of government, as well as interest groups and the media. The third section of the course reviews important forest-related programs, laws, and policies. The fourth section looks at some economic policy instruments, and participation, collaboration and partnerships in natural resource management. While we will focus on forests and related issues in the U.S., some international perspectives and readings at the end of the course will place U.S. forest policy within a global context.