Insider Regulation: The Role of Bill Type in Predicting Legislative Success
Brenzel, Lauren Miller
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2017-08-07
Abstract
A number of major determinants have been previously identified as impacting the passage of state-level anti-abortion bills. However, previous research has failed to take into account the importance of different types of anti-abortion restriction and how bill type may impact a bill’s ability to pass. A recent rise in the passage of anti-abortion legislation between 2011 and 2013 provides a prime case for examining the impact of bill type on bill success. This study utilizes the inclusion of an additional determinant, bill type, that I argue is a form of insider tactic. A review of the pro-life movement illuminates the important role that bill type has played for pro- life movement actors to advance movement goals in the political arena. In line with this, two major hypotheses are examined: (1) bill type will be a significant predictor of legislative success and (2) an interaction between bill type and the time period of 2011-2013 will help explain shifts in legislative trends that occurred during this time period. Some support is found for the importance of bill type, namely in the 2011-2013 time period. This reveals that bill type can be an important indicator of successful legislation. The paper concludes by suggesting that bill type is linked to tactical insider shifts in promoting certain types of bills over others.s