Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Rise Of Agenda Diversity In America: Its Cause And Consequences, John K. Wagner

Political Science ETDs

More than ever, Americans disagree on what issues are important. This diversity in the public agenda has received scant attention in recent years. Consequently, our understanding of why agenda diversity developed relies on a single analysis method, and we know next to nothing about the consequences for the American polity. Using a novel approach to measuring agenda diversity and an advanced experimental design, this dissertation demonstrates the causal connection between issue-based selective exposure to news and higher agenda diversity. Concerning its consequences, this work investigates congressional responsiveness. Results from a complex analysis of constituency public opinion, Congress bill sponsorship, and …

"Do You Know The Way To San Jose?" Ethnic Mexicans, Urbanism, Culture, And Politics In Emerging Silicon Valley, 1940-1980, Alexandro J. Jara

History ETDs

My dissertation explores the Latino experience in Santa Clara County, especially in San Jose. The area, located in Northern California’s Bay Area, is nestled just south of the more popular cities of Oakland and San Francisco, nearly five hundred miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. My examination of the social, cultural, and political activities of Latinos in San Jose provides insight into the community development of ethnic Mexicans away from traditional sites of study in places like Tucson, San Antonio, and Los Angeles. I argue that beginning at mid-century, Latinos moved into the downtown area and helped prevent nearby neighborhoods from …

Recruitment Machines, Community Power And Political Return On Investment (Proi): Economic Development Policy In The Age Of Amazon, Eric G. Griego Montoya

Political Science ETDs

ABSTRACT

A fundamental policy choice in economic development among local policy makers is the appropriate mix of “outside” strategies that use incentives to attract companies, and “inside” strategies that invest in smaller and local businesses. Using a mixed-methods research design, including national and state surveys along with qualitative analysis of interviews conducted with policy elites, I examine the role of ideology, elites, community, competition, social capital (trust and influence), and electoral politics in these policy decisions. I use new descriptive theoretical frameworks called “recruitment machines” and “Political Return on Investment (PROI)” to describe how and why local elected officials support …

Cross-Pressured: Agriculture, Immigration, And Congressional Gop Position-Taking, Jared William Clay

Political Science ETDs

Why are Republican (GOP) members of the Congress bucking their party’s positions on immigration? I argue this is due to agriculture’s large-scale production needs for an immigrant, Latino workforce. Consequently, this immigration influx can excite racial threats which can provoke opposition to immigration and minority interests. This raises an interesting question: Do the agricultural transition and an immigrant workforce cross-pressure district opinion and MCs’ position-taking on immigration and Latino interests more broadly? I assert agriculture’s economic pressure mitigates racial threats, which produces greater support of immigration and Latino issues. Using data from the Congressional Cooperative Election Survey, Congress.gov, Census of …

Understanding Attitudes Toward Healthcare Reform: The Roles Of Self-Interest, Group Identity And Racial Resentment, Maria Beatrice Livaudais

Political Science ETDs

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) cemented itself as one of the most controversial pieces of legislation of the decade. Public opinion polls find Americans are often evenly split in support of the ACA. This dissertation explores the roles of self-interest, group identity, and racial resentment on attitudes toward the ACA and healthcare reform. The dissertation centers our attention on variation by race and the impact racial tensions beyond the Black-White paradigm on these attitudes. I find group identity shapes attitudes Blacks’ and Latinos’ attitudes toward the ACA but not Whites’ and racial resentment, directed toward Blacks, Latinos …

Impact Of Political Action Committee On Government Contracts, Bibek Acharya

Economics ETDs

This research aims to determine whether politically active corporations are more likely to get government contracts or likely to get more massive deals than corporations that are not politically active. The research question is, to what extent is the increase in government contracts due to the presence of corporate PACs or the amount spent by corporate PACs? In sum, we expect that the existence of PACs and the higher the corporation contributions in support of candidates for federal offices, the higher their chances of getting a contract or a more massive contract. We find that corporations that have a PAC …

Hora De Las Noticias: The Importance Of Spanish- Language News Media For Us Latinos, Barbara Gomez-Aguinaga

Political Science ETDs

This dissertation examines the mechanisms that set Spanish-language (SL) news media apart from mainstream media, and how they influence political behavior and identity among US Latinos. Specifically, it analyzes (1) the role of content coverage of SL news on issue salience, (2) the use of Spanish as a US minority language in the dissemination of information and its effects on Latino identity, and (3) the presence of Latino reporters and its implications on media trust. By leveraging original data collection, including conceptual content analyses and population-based survey experiments, and by engaging in multiple theories from political science and other fields …

The Legislative Recycling Bin: A Reevaluation Of The Policy Process, Angelina L. González-Aller

Political Science ETDs

Congressional scholarship has long sought to understand the conditions under which a member of Congress is successful in converting a policy idea into a law. Two areas of this research, the bill sponsorship literature and the legislative effectiveness literature, have developed scholarly understanding on both the motivations and outcomes of bill sponsorship, as well as illuminating the conditions under which a bill is more likely to become law. The empirical approaches of these areas of study however, do not adequately capture the complexities of Congress. Most studies of the legislative process treat bill sponsorship and the policy process as a …

Queering Latinidad: Latinx Politics Beyond Nativity, Melina Juarez

Political Science ETDs

Much debate surrounds the emergence of the term "Latinx." While some have argued against its usage, others have deeply embraced it as a way of representing the gender diversity found within the Latina/o community. Yet, these arguments do not transcend the boundaries of gender to include other facets of identity subverted within the concept of Latinidad. This project seeks to extend the boundaries of Latinx to include other areas of identity that are inherent parts of being a Latino in the United States, including sexuality, African roots, indigeneity, among others. This dissertation seeks to understand whether our rigid conceptualization of …

Agitators: Long, Townsend, And Coughlin Versus The New Deal--1932 Through 1936, Richard L. Lunt

History ETDs

In the first years of the Great Depression of the 1930's there were many political agitators of a near lunatic nature whose demagogic appeal found a sympathetic ear among troubled Americans. Probably the most significant of these agitators were Huey Long, Father Charles E. Coughlin, and Dr. Francis E. Townsend. Certainly they were the only ones who succeeded in a anyway to promote their particular causes on a national scale. In addition, these three men, or their followers, attempted to unite into a Union Party in 1936.

If these men were of any political significance, they should have either aided …

Recruitment In Bernalillo County Of Major Party Candidates For The State Legislature, Dorothy Jean Powell

Political Science ETDs

Politics is a great game of sorts no matter where it is played. In New Mexico it is played in the open. Very little skullduggery is totally hidden from view. And it is not a superior press which keeps it this way. It is the general interest of New Mexicans in their politics. New Mexicans are not bored with politics. Perhaps because men are so sparse they each feel they have a greater voice in government. Perhaps the Spanish and Mexican heritage has much to do with it. In colonial and territorial days the governor was an import, but subordinate …

The Administration Of Governor Merritt Cramer Mechem (1921-1923), John Paul Seman

Political Science ETDs

Governor Mechem was New Mexico's fifth governor. He was only the second Republication (since statehood) to become governor despite the fact that throughout the greatest part of the territorial days, New Mexico was more Republication than Democratic.

A Survey Of Pre-Primary Convention Endorsement Of Party Candidates, Oliver E. Payne

Political Science ETDs

The study is divided into twelve chapters. Chapter one is the introduction. In Chapter two a brief background of American nominating machinery used prior to the advent of the direct primary is discussed. Chapter three is concerned with the direct primary, especially with the most valid criticisms of it. Chapter four deals with the primary plan that was advocated by former Governor Charles Evans Hughes of New York. Chapter five is concerned with the unofficial, tacit agreements that political organizations arrive at in regard to a party slate. This chapter points out that even under the direct primary the party …

An Inquiry Into The Operation Of The Primary System Of New Mexico, Walter L. Mcnutt

Political Science ETDs

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the origin, enactment, and operation of the Direct Primary Code of New Mexico. What has been the effect of greater public participation in the selection of candidates? Has there been a change in the quality of individuals who now seek public office? Has the legislation improved under the law? What are the interests which are for or against the measure? These inquiries will be pursued in the pages that follow.

The History Of Silver City, New Mexico 1870-1886, Conrad Keeler Naegle

History ETDs

In the best days of its past Silver City was never so good as now; never so prosperous, optimistic, filled with the spirit of growing and building.

Parenthetically, if anything we write about Silver City or any place else seems so glowing that you incline to skepticism, suspecting it was written for the gratification of the local inhabitants, don't take our word for it. Go see for yourself. You will discover more than we have put down on paper.

New Mexico's Struggles For Statehood, 1903-1907, Mary J. Masters

History ETDs

In a study of New Mexico's efforts to win statehood, the joint statehood period (1903 to 1907) presents unusual interest. It was during these years that an attempt was made on the part of the administration and certain congressional leaders to unite New Mexico and Arizona and admit them as one state. The period is a distinct episode in the struggle of New Mexico for admission in the union.

It is the purpose of this paper to trace the story of jointure, to discuss the origin of the policy, and to analyze the arguments of the opposing factions. Frequent reference …

The Statehood Policy Of Albert J. Beveridge: 1901-1911, Charles Edgar Maddox

History ETDs

This thesis will examine the personality and policy of Albert J. Beveridge, of Indiana, in his role as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Territories from 1901 to 1911. Particular emphasis is placed upon his attitude toward the admission into the Union of three territories, New Mexico, Arizona, and Oklahoma. This, therefore, is an effort to disclose the motives, methods, and theories which determined and characterized Beveridge's statehood policy.