Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: In this paper we analyze the state-level legislation of woman suffrage in the United States as a sequential process. We contend that stages in the legislative process vary in consequentiality and rule stringency. This variation unevenly distributes the influence of social movements (or other mobilized interest groups) across stages of the legislative process. In contrast to theories that portray institutional fragmentation as increasing minority interest representation in politics, our study highlights the extent to which fragmentation decreases political accessibility and enhances institutional durability. Although social movement organizations may increase the salience of an issue in the agenda setting stages of legislation, a fragmented legislative process diminishes the influence of social movements in the passage stage.