Resources, Attitudes and Strategies: Interest Group Participation in the Bork Confirmation Process
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15763/issn.2374-7781.1994.15.0.1-19Abstract
With evidence from fifty-nine organizations that worked to support or oppose the confirmation of Judge Robert H. Bork to the Supreme Court, we investigate how interest groups utilize their resources to influence politics. We assess the frequency with which advocacy groups adopt (1) an "inside the beltway" strategy, which involves their own members making direct appeals to officeholders; (2) an "outside the beltway" strategy, which involves enlisting the support of an unpredictable public through media campaigns; or (3) some combination of the two. We further develop and test a predictive model of the choice, allowing us to see the impact that the groups’ resource and attitudes have on adopting one strategy or another. Among other things the findings help clarify the important role played by the mass public in Washington politics.References
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