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Understanding commenter influence during agency rule development

Author

Listed:
  • Keith Naughton

    (University of Southern California)

  • Celeste Schmid

    (University of Southern California)

  • Susan Webb Yackee

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Xueyong Zhan

    (School of Public Economics and Administration, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics)

Abstract

We provide the first empirical assessment of commenter influence during the rule development stage of administrative rulemaking. We argue that public com-menters play a critical agenda-setting role during rule development. To test this proposition, we analyze data from 36 Department of Transportation rules and almost 500 comments. Each of these rules began with an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking-a procedure that allows us to track the formal participation of interested parties during rule development. Our analyses are supplemented by face-to-face interviews with agency officials. We find a strong agenda-setting role for early commenters-both in terms of affecting the content of future regulations and in thwarting unwanted regulations. We conclude that “early-bird” com-menters are well positioned to frame public policy debates as rules move through the regulatory process. © 2009 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.

Suggested Citation

  • Keith Naughton & Celeste Schmid & Susan Webb Yackee & Xueyong Zhan, 2009. "Understanding commenter influence during agency rule development," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(2), pages 258-277.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jpamgt:v:28:y:2009:i:2:p:258-277
    DOI: 10.1002/pam.20426
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wood, B. Dan & Waterman, Richard W., 1991. "The Dynamics of Political Control of the Bureaucracy," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 85(3), pages 801-828, September.
    2. Dorothy M. Daley, 2007. "Citizen groups and scientific decisionmaking: Does public participation influence environmental outcomes?," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(2), pages 349-368.
    3. Bachrach, Peter & Baratz, Morton S., 1962. "Two Faces of Power1," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 56(4), pages 947-952, December.
    4. Balla, Steven J., 1998. "Administrative Procedures and Political Control of the Bureaucracy," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 92(3), pages 663-673, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mercy B. DeMenno, 2019. "Technocracy, democracy, and public policy: An evaluation of public participation in retrospective regulatory review," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 13(3), pages 362-383, September.
    2. Steven J. Balla & Alexander R. Beck & Elizabeth Meehan & Aryamala Prasad, 2022. "Lost in the flood?: Agency responsiveness to mass comment campaigns in administrative rulemaking," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(1), pages 293-308, January.

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