This study tested the impact of information change, represented by reform in the budgetary system, on congressional behavior. While congressional attitudes toward budgetary reform are not well documented, the significance of member behavior should not be overlooked, as the information used during congressional hearings, as well as members' outlook, greatly influences the final outcome. / The underlying premise was this: If program information were to be provided, would the participants in the budget process utilize it in making their budgetary decisions rather than continuing to rely on the traditional, object-of-expenditure type of information? / The study focused on the House Appropriations Subcommittees because of their large role in budgetary matters and the impact of the subcommittees' decision-making processes on their members' behavior. Hearings transcripts for FY1964-FY1984 meetings of these committees were examined and content analyzed. Five federal agencies and their three corresponding appropriations subcommittees were the sample for this research. The Planning-Programming-Budgeting system and the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 are the two budgetary interventions examined in the study. / The findings show that the congressional participants in the hearings were not impressed with new information, as there was no sudden increase in program-type inquiry; however, members also did not adhere solely to the traditional type of inquiry. During the period studied, there was no evidence that information reform influenced the subcommittees' orientation toward more questions related to program; nor did trends emerge in other types of inquiries. The three subcommittees chosen have found satisfactory patterns of inquiry over the period covered, with each subcommittee having its own orientation in gathering information appropriate for its members' behavior. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-03, Section: A, page: 0788. / Major Professor: Gloria Grizzle. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1989.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_77955 |
| Contributors | Ahmad, Alaa-Aldin A., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 186 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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