Collaborative Research: The Evolution and Influence of Interest Group Networks before the Supreme Court

利益集团运用多种手段施加影响，其中联盟策略占主导地位。本课题运用网络理论和方法，为利益集团联盟的研究带来了新的理论视角。这种视角提供了一种视角，在这种视角下，个人的属性不如网络中参与者之间的关系和纽带那么重要。这个项目解决了关于利益集团行为的三个重要问题：利益集团联盟战略随着时间的推移发生了怎样的变化；哪些因素决定了利益集团是否合作；以及特定的利益集团是否在最高法院拥有更大的权力？利用基于共同签字人地位的利益集团联盟的网络措施，对美国最高法院法庭之友或法庭案情摘要之友进行了说明，说明了从1930年到现在这一动态网络的核心角色和总体特征。此外，分析表明，哪些属性使利益集团合作，以及网络中的权力如何影响司法决策和诉讼成功。通过创建适用于80年来利益集团活动的新网络衡量标准和利益集团特征的相关数据集，这项研究为学者们提供了一个无与伦比的机会，来研究利益集团联盟在参与政府程序时的相对影响。

Interest groups use a variety of techniques to exert influence, among which coalition strategies are dominant. This project brings a new theoretical perspective to the study of interest group coalitions by applying network theory and methods. Such a perspective provides a lens where the attributes of individuals are less important than the relationships and ties among actors in the network. This project addresses three important questions about interest group behavior: how have interest group coalition strategies changed over time; which factors determine whether interest groups work together; and do particular interest groups wield more power before the Court? Utilizing a network measure of interest group coalitions based on cosigner status to United States Supreme Court amicus curiae, or friend of the court briefs, the central players and overall characteristics of this dynamic network from 1930 to present-day are illuminated. In addition, the analyses suggest which attributes bring interest groups to work together and how power in the network influences judicial decision-making and litigation success. Through the creation of a new network measure applicable to 80 years of interest group activity and an associated data set of interest group characteristics, this research provides scholars an unparalleled opportunity to study the relative impact of interest group coalitions as they engage the governmental process.