Mia Alderman
Research Mentor(s): Devin Judge-Lord
Mentor Department:
Authors: Mia Alderman, Devin Judge-Lord
Session: Session 3 (11:00am – 11:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 97
Abstract
Despite extensive research on bureaucratic policymaking, little attention has been paid to the influence of public mobilization during the rulemaking process. Traditional studies focus on lobbying by political insiders and agencies’ discretionary power, often overlooking ordinary citizens’ role in shaping policy outcomes. This study examines how advocacy groups mobilize individuals to engage in public comment periods and assesses how their input influences regulatory decisions. To explore these dynamics, my research analyzes public comments submitted to federal agencies, focusing on rulemaking by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding health data breach notification policies. I systematically coded comments by organization type, coalition affiliation, policy position, and specific requests. This approach allows for an empirical assessment of how advocacy-driven campaigns shape regulatory outcomes. Findings suggest that well-organized advocacy groups, such as Planned Parenthood and the Light Collective, were successful in pushing for key policy changes, including refining the definition of health records to enhance consumer protections. Conversely, opposing coalitions seeking to maintain broader regulatory language were less successful. These results indicate that political administrations’ responsiveness to public pressure may align with their ideological leanings, with Democratic administrations showing greater receptiveness to consumer protection concerns. This study contributes to the broader literature on administrative politics, interest group influence, and public participation in policymaking. By expanding this analysis to additional policy areas such as education and immigration, future research can further explore how executive-branch agencies filter and respond to public input, shedding light on the evolving role of citizen engagement in regulatory governance.
