Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation
5-2008
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Department
Political Science
Committee Chair
Farrier, Jasmine, 1970-
Subject
Public administration--Decision making; Political planning--United States--Case studies; Bankruptcy--United States
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to analyze two Congressional decisionmaking models and two policymaking models to identify which provides the strongest explanation of the bankruptcy reform process between 1997 and 2005. The two models of Congressional decisionmaking are the partisan model described by Mann and Ornstein and Binder's institutional model. The two policymaking models considered in this project are Kingdon's revision of the "garbage can model" delineated in his work on policymaking, and Baumgartner and Jones' punctuated equilibrium model described in their policymaking research. The Binder and Kingdon models provide the most accurate description of the bankruptcy reform process largely due to their emphasis on internal structures in the policymaking process. Baumgartner and Jones overestimate of the impact of the media's agenda setting role. Mann and Ornstein fail to explain the long period of debate in Congress despite the legislation passing every floor vote.
Recommended Citation
Greenwell, Dollie Jane 1984-, "Congress, framing, media and bankruptcy reform, 1997-2005." (2008). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 530.
https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/530
