Legislator Use of Communication Technology

The Critical Frequency Theory of Policy System Stability

Legislator Use of Communication Technology cover

Legislator Use of Communication Technology

The Critical Frequency Theory of Policy System Stability

Out of stock
$141.83 RRP $177.29 Website price saving $35.46 (20%)
Notify me by email when this item is available

For information on how we process your data, read our Privacy Policy

Description

Political use of communication technology is rapidly changing the nature of politics; one need look no further than President Trump’s use of Twitter to realize the impact that communication technology is having on political processes. Communication technology has long been recognized as part of the policy feedback process, but until now, has received relatively little focus, often relegated to a line or two in a policy process theory system diagram labeled “feedback." This book takes a fresh look at the role that communication technology plays in the policy process by applying natural science control and electrical engineering concepts such as bandwidth, latency, phase crossover, and positive and negative feedback to develop the critical frequency theory of policy system stability. This theory suggests that every policymaking institution has some critical frequency of communications from the policy environment that once exceeded, causes the policymaking institution to go unstable, and it is this instability that causes the policymaking process to speed up. With the theory developed, data collected on approximately 2,000 state legislators from every state in the U.S. is analyzed using linear and nonlinear regression models to understand the statistically significant relationships between communication technology frequency of use and importance, and the demographic, political, and institutional variables that contribute to policy process stability and instability. Additionally, interviews with legislators uncover many novel and interesting examples of the use of communication technology in the policy process. For example, legislators note that lobbyists sitting in legislative chambers listening to floor debates are actually texting questions and answers to legislators as they debate; legislators participating in this process are acting as policymaking puppets for the lobbyists sitting in the gallery. This single use of a communication technology has the capability of changing the very nature of what it means to be a legislator; with lobbyists acting as surrogate legislators.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Communication Technology as Feedback in the Policy Process



Chapter 2: Mature Communication Technologies



Chapter 3: Mass-Media Communication Technologies



Chapter 4: Internet-Enabled Communication Technologies



Chapter 5: Relative Use and Importance of all Communication Technologies



Chapter 6: Legislator Roles, Policy Conflict and Constituent Communications



Chapter 7: Political Polarization



Chapter 8: Critical Frequency Theory of Policy System Stability

Product details

Published 03 Dec 2018
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Extent 302
ISBN 9781498565301
Imprint Lexington Books
Illustrations 6 Charts, 11 Graphs, 1 Map, 26 Tables
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Joe West

Related Titles

Get 30% off in the May sale - for one week only

Environment: Staging