Date of Award
2014
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Alcock, Frank
Keywords
Legislation, Policy Diffusion, United States, Case Studies
Area of Concentration
Public Policy
Abstract
Are the political actors that deploy model legislation a well understood mechanism of diffusion? Is model legislation itself a well understood mechanism of diffusion? This thesis intends to better understand the role of model legislation and the actors who deploy it, and begin integrating this mechanism into future research on state policy diffusion. Three case studies of model laws written by the American Legislative Exchange Council, Americans United for Life, and the Progressive States Network demonstrate that both model legislation and the political actors who deploy it play a significant role in the diffusion of state policies. This thesis effectively traced the steps of policy diffusion and provided insight into the strategies and conditions that enable model laws to diffuse. Future studies of policy diffusion should incorporate and integrate the role that model legislation plays in the diffusion of state policy.
Recommended Citation
Long, Michael, "Model Legislation as a Tool for Policy Diffusion in the United States" (2014). Theses & ETDs. 4899.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/4899