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SAGE Journal User Guide

Article 1:

Burstein, P., Bauldry, S., & Froese, P (2005). Bill Sponsorship and Congressional Support for Policy Proposals, from Introduction to Enactment or Disappearance. Political Research Quarterly, 58(2), pp. 295-302.

This article identifies strategies to enhance support for policy proposals through the legislative process.  The authors suggest that trends in sponsorship provide a good way to measure support for particular proposals for policy change

Questions to Consider:

1. What are some challenges to identifying the level of support that was available for a policy that never achieved the level of a vote?

2. Describe two approaches to measuring congressional support for policy proposals early in the policy process.

3. What is the difference between support for a single bill and support for a policy proposal?

Article 2:

Gormley, W.T. & Cymrot, H. (2006). The Strategic Choices of Child Advocacy Groups. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 35(1), pp. 102-122.

This article reviews the strategies utilized by 50 child advocacy groups seeking to influence public policy at the state level.  Strategic options identified include insider strategies, outsider strategies, coalition building, and public policy research, as well as the issue of friends and enemies in the political environment.

Questions to Consider:

1. What are some of the threats and opportunities faced by interest groups?

2. What is the difference between insider strategies and outsider strategies?

3. What were the findings of the study conducted by the authors?