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Setting the Agenda in the U.S. Senate: A Theory of Problem Selection

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  • Walker, Jack L.

Abstract

The choice of issues for debate is of central importance in any political system. By deciding what they will decide about, legislators also establish the terms and the most prominent participants in debate and, ultimately, the distribution of power and influence in the society. As Schattschneider has pointed out:Political conflict is not like an intercollegiate debate in which the opponents agree in advance on a definition of the issues. As a matter of fact, the definition of the alternatives is the supreme instrument of power; the antagonists can rarely agree on what the issues are because power is involved in the definition. He who determines what politics is about runs the country, because the definition of alternatives is the choice of conflicts, and the choice of conflicts allocates power.

Suggested Citation

  • Walker, Jack L., 1977. "Setting the Agenda in the U.S. Senate: A Theory of Problem Selection," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 7(4), pages 423-445, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:bjposi:v:7:y:1977:i:04:p:423-445_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Enriqueta Aragonès & Clara Ponsatí, 2022. "Shocks to issue salience and electoral competition," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 33-63, March.
    2. Azad Bali & Darren Halpin, 2021. "Agenda-setting instruments: means and strategies for the management of policy demands [Mayflies and old bulls: Organization persistence in state interest communities]," Policy and Society, Darryl S. Jarvis and M. Ramesh, vol. 40(3), pages 333-344.
    3. Lockwood, Ben & Porcelli, Francesco & Redoano, Michela & Schiavone, Antonio, 2022. "Does Data Disclosure Improve Local Government Performance? Evidence from Italian Municipalities," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1434, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    4. Eric Lindquist & Katrina N. Mosher‐Howe & Xinsheng Liu, 2010. "Nanotechnology . . . What Is It Good For? (Absolutely Everything): A Problem Definition Approach," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 27(3), pages 255-271, May.
    5. F L Cook & W G Skogan, 1990. "Agenda Setting and the Rise and Fall of Policy Issues: The Case of Criminal Victimization of the Elderly," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 8(4), pages 395-415, December.
    6. Charles D. Taylor, 2012. "Governors as Economic Problem Solvers," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 26(3), pages 267-276, August.
    7. Howard Kunreuther & John W. Lathrop, 1981. "Siting Hazardous Facilities: Lessons from LNG," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 1(4), pages 289-302, December.
    8. Gerald A. Cole & Stephen B. Withey, 1981. "Perspectives on Risk Perceptions," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 1(2), pages 143-163, June.

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