2006 Conference Program - Midwest Political Science Association

Disc.likelihood of a filibuster is a function of the time left in aCongress.David Epstein, Columbia University32-6 INTEREST GROUP NETWORKS ANDREPRESENTATIONRoomChairPaperPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Fri 10:30 amDavid Paul, The Ohio State University, NewarkNGO Research Program: A Collective Action PerspectiveErica J. Johnson, University of WashingtonAseem Prakash, University of WashingtonOverview: Nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations,considered critical indicators of functioning democracy, areundertheorized. This paper draws from political science,sociology, and public management to develop a more generalapproach to collective action.One Person, One Lobbyist? American Public Constituenciesand Organized RepresentationMatthew J. Grossmann, University of California, BerkeleyOverview: Using new data on 1,710 interest organizations inWashington and 140 of the constituencies that they represent, Ianalyze which types of public factions are better represented byorganized advocates in Congress and the administration.The Structure of Interest Group Issue Networks in DCSuzanne M. Robbins, George Mason UniversityOverview: This project expands upon what we know aboutinterest group networks using theories from the public policyliterature.Standing Out in the Crowd: How Interest Groups ForgeUnique IdentitiesMichael T. Heaney, University of FloridaOverview: I present a dynamic model in which interest groupsidentify themselves with a particular policy community and thendifferentiate themselves in multiple dimensions from othergroups in that community.David M. Paul, The Ohio State University, Newark33-4 PRESIDENTIAL IMAGE-MAKINGSTRATEGIESRoomChairPaperPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Fri 10:30 amJennifer J. Hora, Roanoke CollegeWar of Words: Tracking Changes in Presidential SpeechDraftsKen Collier, Stephen F. Austin State UniversityOverview: This paper uses the quantitative analysis of changesto presidential speech drafts to provide insights into theinstitutional conflicts within the modern White House.Whom Does the President Speak To and Why Does itMatter?Sara M. Gubala, Michigan State UniversityOverview: The public presidency literature has looked at whyspeeches matter but has not examined where speeches are givenand to whom the speeches are given to. This paper examinesthis gap by examining where presidents give speeches and towhom they talk to.Determining Successful Strategies of PresidentialLeadership of OpinionBrandon Rottinghaus, University of IdahoOverview: In this article, we take a particular subset of opinion"leadership" (issues that are unpopular before the presidentspeaks but popular afterwards) and examine conditions underwhich the president might be influencing these trends.The Entertainer-In-Chief: The First Lady as PresidentialImage-MakerTabitha A. Warters, Francis Marion UniversityOverview: This paper examines the soft media outreach byLaura Bush. It looks at the need by the White House to reachout to the viewers of these outlets and the effect the First Lady'sappearances have had on presidential leadership.Elvin T. Lim, University of TulsaJennifer J. Hora, Roanoke College33-11 THE POLITICS OF PRESIDENTIALELECTIONSRoom TBA, Fri 10:30 amChair James D. King, University of WyomingPaper Progressive Ambition and the Presidency: 1972-2008Randall E. Adkins, University of Nebraska, OmahaAndrew J. Dowdle, University of ArkansasWayne P. Steger, DePaul UniversityOverview: We use a probit regression model to account for thedecisions of governors and senators to run for president from1972-2004. We also forecast which governors and senators willrun for president in 2008.PaperPaperDisc.The Geography of Presidential FundraisingBrendan J. Doherty, University of California, BerkeleyOverview: In this paper, I examine the frequency and geographyof presidential fundraising from 1977 to 2004 to assess thepresident’s changing role as fundraiser-in chief.The Empirical Implications of Electoral College ReformDarshan J. Goux, University of California, BerkeleyDavid A. Hopkins, University of California, BerkeleyOverview: The debate on electoral college reform hashistorically been dominated by theoretical arguments. Thispaper employs quantitative evidence to evaluate the likelypractical consequences of electoral college reform.Russell D. Renka, Southeast Missouri State University34-7 REPRESENTATIVENESS ANDDESIRABILITYOFCOMMITTEESRoomChairPaperTBA, Fri 10:30 amCharles Stewart, III, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyA New Look at Committee Theories in the StatesJames S. Battista, University of North TexasOverview: Analyzes the representativeness of committees in 98state legislative chambers.Paper Committee Prestige in the Senate, 1947-2004R. Brian Law, University of California, Los AngelesOverview: This paper defines and measures Senate committeeprestige from 1947-2004 by Congress. The bi-annual measurehighlights the rise and fall of different committees as thelegislative branch has responded to the evolving environment.PaperPaperPaperDisc.The Committee Assignment Process as an All-Pay, SealedBid AuctionDaniel Lee, Duke UniversityOverview: This paper analyzes the committee assignmentprocess as an all-pay, sealed bid auction. I derive equilibriumeffort strategies for individual legislators who compete forvacant committee seats on a committee.Freshman Committee Assignments in the House ofRepresentativesJacob R. Straus, University of FloridaOverview: This paper examines the types of committeeassignments first term (or freshman) members of Congressreceive from the House leadership.The Electoral Connection and Committee Requests: MatrixReloadedChristopher G. Faricy, University of North Carolina, ChapelHillOverview: The heterogeneity of committees allows Housemembers to choose assignments that align with personalpreferences and constituency interests. I find constituencyvariables and prior occupation predicts requests better thandistrict interests.Jonathan Woon, Carnegie Mellon University152