Venue Effects: How State Policy Source Influences Policy Support

Abstract

Does receiving information about a policy's source shape individual support for the policy? Is the public more supportive of policies issued by courts, legislatures, or citizens voting on a ballot initiative? Using a survey experiment, we find strong evidence that learning about a policy's source can affect support for the policy. Specifically, we find that state‐level policy sources influence both the degree and direction of influence on policy support. In general, when informed about a policy's source, survey participants are least likely to support the policy when it is judicially determined and instead prefer the policy when it is produced either through the legislature or by the voters. However, upon learning of the policy's source, self‐identified partisans and Independents differ significantly in their support for the policy.Related Articles Grossmann, Matt. 2014. “.” Politics & Policy 42 (): 881‐904. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12102/abstract Ertas, Nevbahar. 2015. “.” Politics & Policy 43 (): 426‐451. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12120/abstract Rugeley, Cynthia R., and John David Gerlach. 2012. “.” Politics & Policy 40 (): 444‐470. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2012.00352.x/abstract Related Media Fox, Joe, and James Nubile. (2012) “Question 1: The Battle for Same Sex Marriage in America.” http://www.q1-themovie.com/ Klink, Jack. 2013. “Rise above the Mark.” https://riseabovethemark.com/