Journal Article

Cross-Cutting Influences of Environmental Protest and Legislation

Olzak, Susan, Soule, Sarah A.

2009

Overview

This research examines the influence of types of protest activities, Congressional hearings and political characteristics on environmental legislation enacted from 1961-1990. We find that rates of environmental protest rise with increases in the amount of previous institutional activities, but extra-institutional activities do not raise the overall rate of protest. Protest has no direct effect on the passage of legislation, but institutional protest activities significantly raise the rate of Congressional hearings on the environment. When comparing all environmental laws to those designated as having a major impact, we find both similarities and differences. For example, prior legislative activity decreases both rates, but increases in criteria air pollutants and partisan characteristics of Congress significantly affect only the rates of major environmental legislation.

• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press,University of North Carolina Press,Oxford University Press
• Subject: Activism / Agenda Setting / Bill drafting / Citizen Participation / Colletive Action / Company business management / Congressional hearings / Congressional legislation / Conservation (Environment) / Context Effect / Criteria / Demonstrations & protests / Demonstrations and protests / Environmental institutions / Environmental law / Environmental legislation / Environmental movement / Environmental Movements / Environmental policy / Environmental problems / Environmental protection / Environmental regulation / Environmentalism / Evidence / Federal Legislation / Feedback (Response) / Hearings / Human ecology and demography / Inferences / Influence / Legislation / Legislative behaviour / Legislatures / Longitudinal studies / Management / Opportunities / Partisanship / Policy analysis / Political Attitudes / Political behaviour / Political Factors / Political influences / Political protest / Political protests / Political sociology / Politics / Pollution / Predictor Variables / Protest Movements / Public Opinion / Public Policy / Social activism / Social aspects / Social Change / Social movements / Social protest / Sociology / Sociology of law and criminology / Sociology of law and justice / Success / U.S.A