Political Science Layers of Bias in Proactive Policing Research Paper
1. Project Title: “Navigating Lobbyist Influence: Unveiling the Impact of Corporate Lobbying on Congressional Decision-Making”
2. Topic: The research paper focuses on the phenomenon of corporate lobbying and its influence on the decision-making processes of the United States Congress. Corporate lobbying is a well-established practice where interest groups representing corporations attempt to influence legislative decisions in their favor. This topic aims to explore how this lobbying practice shapes the policies and actions of Congress, often leading to debates about the role of money and special interests in democratic governance.
3. Difference: The anomaly to be explained is the apparent disparity between the preferences of the general public and the legislative decisions made by Congress. Often, policy outcomes seem to align more closely with the interests of powerful corporations that engage in extensive lobbying efforts rather than with the preferences of the broader citizenry. This difference raises questions about the democratic representation of citizens and the potential influence of corporate interests on the legislative process.
4. Question: “How does corporate lobbying influence the decision-making processes of Congress, and to what extent does it contribute to the divergence between public preferences and legislative outcomes?”
5. Bibliography: a) Gilens, M., & Page, B. I. (2014). “Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens.” Perspectives on Politics, 12(3), 564-581. This seminal study explores the influence of different interest groups, including corporate elites, on the policy-making process in the United States. The authors analyze data spanning several decades to assess the relationship between the preferences of different groups and the actual policy outcomes. Their findings shed light on the potential influence of corporate interests on legislative decisions.
b) Hacker, J. S., & Pierson, P. (2011). “Winner-Take-All Politics: How Washington Made the Rich Richer—and Turned Its Back on the Middle Class.” Simon and Schuster. This book delves into the role of various interest groups, including corporations and lobbying organizations, in shaping economic policies and regulations. The authors argue that the concentration of political power among wealthy elites and corporate interests has led to policies that benefit these groups disproportionately, often at the expense of the middle class and working Americans.
c) Leech, B. L., & Lee, F. E. (2015). “The Lobbying of Governments and the U.S. Congress: A Conceptual Framework.” Interest Groups & Advocacy, 4(2), 127-154. This article provides a conceptual framework for understanding the dynamics of lobbying in the context of government institutions, particularly the U.S. Congress. The authors discuss the various strategies and techniques used by interest groups, including corporations, to influence legislative decisions. Their analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which lobbying can impact policy outcomes.
5c. Chicago Style Citations:
- Gilens, Martin, & Page, Benjamin I. 2014. “Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens.” Perspectives on Politics 12 (3): 564-581.
- Hacker, Jacob S., & Pierson, Paul. 2011. Winner-Take-All Politics: How Washington Made the Rich Richer—and Turned Its Back on the Middle Class. Simon and Schuster.
- Leech, Beth L., & Lee, Frances E. 2015. “The Lobbying of Governments and the U.S. Congress: A Conceptual Framework.” Interest Groups & Advocacy 4 (2): 127-154.
5d. Supplemental Sources:
- Investigative reports from ProPublica and The Center for Responsive Politics provide insights into specific lobbying activities and financial contributions from corporations to members of Congress.
- Opinion pieces from reputable newspapers like The New York Times and The Washington Post often discuss the role of corporate lobbying in legislative decision-making.
- Think tank reports, such as those from the Brookings Institution and the Cato Institute, offer analyses of lobbying practices and their impact on policy outcomes.
QUESTION
Description
The purpose of this research paper is to question some phenomenon that influences Congress through the framework of political science, analyze relevant scholarship and data on the topic, and develop a strong argument that you substantiate through research
Please answer the following questions separately, rather than trying to integrate them into an essay. You must properly cite sources (see below) or lose points.
1. Project Title
2. Topic: Identify some phenomenon or dynamic that influences Congress. While this may be a popular contemporary political issue—for instance the influence of #MeToo on the entertainment industry—your topic may also be more unique and not of widespread public discussion. Describe the topic.
3. Difference: What difference or anomaly do you want to explain?
4. Question: Develop a succinct question that frames the puzzle you’re interested in exploring about your topic. A question inquires into some unknown dynamic. I recommend avoiding yes or no questions. Instead, you should search for processes that reveal the tensions, power relationships, institutional processes, etc., of your topic.
5. Bibliography: I recommend beginning your research by exploring academic sources at Google Scholar, and write a few paragraphs explaining how three academic sources are relevant to address your question. In Google Scholar: first, try different combinations of keywords. Second, adjust dates for your search inquiry to discover articles relevant to your research (for instance, if you’re studying the Movement for Black Lives, you’ll want to search for articles in the past few years since it began). Third, you may gauge the influence of the article by noticing how many people have cited the article. Fourth, you may want to explore the bibliographies of articles you find insightful, as well as the links on Google Scholar called “cited by” and “related,” which may list similar pieces
5c. Please cite your research paper sources using Chicago Manual of Style — Author-Date:
5d. Supplement your scholastic research with magazines, newspapers, websites, think tanks, etc. Again, check what these scholars cite for other possible sources.