This dissertation explores the role of earmarks, also known as pork projects, in several facets of American politics. After reviewing the changing history and various means of measuring earmark projects, I attempt to determine which Members of Congress are most adept at securing earmarks, and whether these projects affect electoral security. Second, this work departs from previous assumptions that pork projects are viewed equally by all recipients, given recipients are made aware of the projects at all. Third, this work challenges existing claims that contend a direct linkage between voter awareness of earmark projects and electoral support for an incumbent; instead, I argue for the role of media dissemination of this information. Finally, this project differentiates itself from the current literature by approaching the impact of earmarks not solely as a means to directly appeal to the majority of voters, but as a quid pro quo to be invoked by Members looking to shore up campaign support. Rather than contend that only voters reward incumbents for project dollars, this paper explores the impact of earmarks on campaign contributions provided by special interest groups. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Political Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2013. / June 18, 2013. / Behavior, Congress, Earmarks, Elections, Pork, Voting / Includes bibliographical references. / Cherie Maestas, Professor Directing Dissertation; Lance DeHaven-Smith, University Representative; Robert Jackson, Committee Member; Brad Gomez, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_183670 |
| Contributors | Braidwood, Travis (authoraut), Maestas, Cherie (professor directing dissertation), DeHaven-Smith, Lance (university representative), Jackson, Robert (committee member), Gomez, Brad (committee member), Department of Political Science (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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