Institute of Politics

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IOP Policy Challenges

Throughout the academic year, the Institute of Politics challenges UChicago students to propose solutions to major issues in local, national, and global politics. The winning team of our Fall 2024 challenge will be awarded $500 per team member.

Fall 2024 Challenge

Write Your Own Bipartisan Lame-Duck Legislation!

The period between the November election and the beginning of the new Congress in January is known as a "lame-duck session." This year, Washington’s decision makers will include a lame-duck President, Joe Biden, a savvy and legacy-minded Senate Republican leader and a newly-elected President who will be working with Congress to set up his or her first 100 days in office. What do you think they should take on?

In teams of 2 to 5 students, write a two-page summarized Congressional bill on any issue that you believe could pass during the upcoming lame-duck session. No policy experience is necessary! This competition is open to all UChicago students.

Learn more at our info session on Tuesday, October 8 at 2:30 p.m. in the IOP living room. The deadline to register your team is Friday, October 18 at 11:59 p.m., and teams must submit their proposals here by Friday, November 7 at 11:59 p.m.

Teams will present their bill to an expert judge panel on Thursday, November 14th. The top three teams will move forward to our final round and present their bills on Monday, November 18th. The winning team will be awarded $500 per person.

If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Palmisciano (spalmisciano@uchicago.edu).

Past Challenges

Spring 2024 | Urban-Rural Policy Challenge

While politically divided, rural and urban areas both struggle with health care, child care and food access; an ongoing opioid crisis, and often, economic disinvestment. We challenged students to create policy proposals to address challenges facing both urban and rural communities.

Fall 2023 | Affordable Housing

In our fourth university-wide contest, we challenged students to present a plan on how they would improve housing affordability in a city or rural area of their choice.

Spring 2023 | World Hunger

The Institute of Politics and the Kiphart Center for Global Health and Social Development challenged students to present a plan to attack hunger anywhere around the globe – from conflict zones to your own college campus and anywhere in between – formed through their specific area of study or interest.

Winter 2023 | Rerouting: Public Transportation for All

The Institute of Politics and the Center for Effective Government joined forces for a university-wide contest soliciting student-generated policy solutions to fix Chicago’s transit system.

Fall 2022 | The $1.6 Trillion Question

The Institute of Politics teamed up with the Harris School of Public Policy for a contest soliciting student-generated policy solutions to the student-debt crisis.

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