Emma Weiss
Research Mentor(s): Devin Judge-Lord
Mentor Department:
Authors: Emma Weiss, Devin Judge-Lord
Session: Session 3 (11:00am – 11:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 110
Abstract
In the United States, most lawmaking occurs within the executive branch. However, lobbying often influences these policies, introducing biases that can lead to outcomes favored or disliked by the public. While public participation in rulemaking has the potential to enhance democratic involvement, it is usually dominated by political insiders. Occasionally, public pressure campaigns succeed in mobilizing millions of citizens to voice their opinions and comment on proposed policies, offering a rare opportunity for civic engagement. This research investigates the types of organizations driving lobbying efforts and how they mobilize ordinary people to engage in policy advocacy. To answer these questions, the project collects and analyzes millions of public comments submitted during the rulemaking process. A focus of this project is the Energy Conservation Standards for Electric Motors (EERE) – a policy proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy that aims to establish new energy efficiency standards for electric motors. These changes are expected to save energy, reduce emissions, and provide cost savings to consumers. The goal of this project is to measure civic engagement and its influence on executive-branch policymaking. By analyzing these data, the study highlights coalitions and organizations capable of rallying large-scale public support around specific policy goals.
