Factors Influencing the Adoption of New Methods of Legislative Oversight in the U. S. States

Abstract

This study examines the adoption of two relatively new methods of state legislative oversight-rule and regulation review and sunset. The patterns and differences among the states through 1979 in utilizing these methods are analyzed. An empirical model concentrating on five factors-general legislative capabilities, existing oversight capabilities, administrative structure, executive power, and divided party control-is tested to account for the variation in both the adoption of these techniques and the specific method used. Using discriminant analysis, findings suggest that the adoption of rule and regulation review is associated with greater conflict between the executive and the legislature and greater divided party control, while the adoption of sunset is associated with low legislative professionalism and low existing oversight.