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The evolution of elite framing following enactment of legislation

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  • Michael Gruszczynski
  • Sarah Michaels

Abstract

The study of policy framing enables the investigation of how elites conceptualize policy issues. While the dominant investigative work on elite framing has been within the mass media, we demonstrate the utility of an elite framing approach in a political institution, the U.S. Congress. We argue for moving to a “life-cycle” approach to policy framing that recognizes the evolution of elite framing attempts as implementation of a law deviates from its legislative intent, basing our approach out of the issue-attention cycle theory put forth by Downs (Public Interest 28:38–50, 1972 ). Framing efforts by policy advocates do not end after legislation has been enacted or policy changed. Elites who have been unsuccessful in achieving their policy aims continue to advocate for their preferred outcomes by altering their framing strategies. We demonstrate this by applying evolutionary factor analysis to investigate 10 Congressional committee hearings held between 1957 and 2006 pertaining to federal funding for the Garrison Diversion Unit in North Dakota. From the perspective of proponents of diverting water from the Missouri River, how the Congressional debate over the Unit progressed constituted policy regression. This is reflected in the evolution of elite framing over the period studied. Our analysis uncovers the emergence of four evolutionary frames. Initial frames emphasized the benefits to be derived from water diversion, while subsequent frames reflected a more defensive posture emphasizing the limited harm that water diversion would cause. This research demonstrates the consequences of legislative implementation delay for elite framing attempts. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. 2012

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Gruszczynski & Sarah Michaels, 2012. "The evolution of elite framing following enactment of legislation," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 45(4), pages 359-384, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:policy:v:45:y:2012:i:4:p:359-384
    DOI: 10.1007/s11077-012-9153-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ryane Straus, 2011. "Citizens’ use of policy symbols and frames," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 44(1), pages 13-34, March.
    2. Jones, Bryan D. & Baumgartner, Frank R. & Talbert, Jeffery C., 1993. "The Destruction of Issue Monopolies in Congress," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 87(3), pages 657-671, September.
    3. Mark Mcbeth & Elizabeth Shanahan, 2004. "Public opinion for sale: The role of policy marketers in Greater Yellowstone policy conflict," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 37(3), pages 319-338, December.
    4. Andrea K. Gerlak, 2006. "Federalism and U.S. Water Policy: Lessons for the Twenty-First Century," Publius: The Journal of Federalism, CSF Associates Inc., vol. 36(2), pages 231-257.
    5. Dave Howland & Mimi Becker & Lawrence Prelli, 2006. "Merging content analysis and the policy sciences: A system to discern policy-specific trends from news media reports," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 39(3), pages 205-231, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jennifer Dodge & Tamara Metze, 2024. "Approaches to policy framing: deepening a conversation across perspectives," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 57(2), pages 221-256, June.
    2. Iris Stucki & Fritz Sager, 2018. "Aristotelian framing: logos, ethos, pathos and the use of evidence in policy frames," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 51(3), pages 373-385, September.

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