03843nam 2200793 a 450 991097006130332120240508185704.09786612679315978128267931312826793179780226764658022676465610.7208/9780226764658(CKB)2670000000033514(EBL)557586(OCoLC)648760854(SSID)ssj0000411640(PQKBManifestationID)11250315(PQKBTitleCode)TC0000411640(PQKBWorkID)10355138(PQKB)10461706(MiAaPQ)EBC557586(DE-B1597)535495(OCoLC)748360758(DE-B1597)9780226764658(Au-PeEL)EBL557586(CaPaEBR)ebr10402622(CaONFJC)MIL267931(Perlego)1853549(EXLCZ)99267000000003351420000201d2000 uy 0engur|n|---|||||txtccrAmerican business and political power public opinion, elections, and democracy /Mark A. Smith1st ed.Chicago University of Chicago Pressc20001 online resource (259 p.)Studies in communication, media, and public opinionDescription based upon print version of record.9780226764627 0226764621 9780226764641 0226764648 Includes bibliographical references (p. 223-235) and index.Introduction -- Business unity and its consequences for representative democracy -- Identifying business unity -- A portrait of unifying issues -- Public opinion, elections, and lawmaking -- Overt sources of business power -- Structural sources of business power -- The role of business in shaping public opinion -- The compatibility of business unity and popular sovereignty.Most people believe that large corporations wield enormous political power when they lobby for policies as a cohesive bloc. With this controversial book, Mark A. Smith sets conventional wisdom on its head. In a systematic analysis of postwar lawmaking, Smith reveals that business loses in legislative battles unless it has public backing. This surprising conclusion holds because the types of issues that lead businesses to band together-such as tax rates, air pollution, and product liability-also receive the most media attention. The ensuing debates give citizens the information they need to hold their representatives accountable and make elections a choice between contrasting policy programs. Rather than succumbing to corporate America, Smith argues, representatives paradoxically become more responsive to their constituents when facing a united corporate front. Corporations gain the most influence over legislation when they work with organizations such as think tanks to shape Americans' beliefs about what government should and should not do.Studies in communication, media, and public opinion.Business and politicsUnited StatesPublic opinionUnited StatesPower (Social sciences)United StatesPressure groupsUnited StatesLobbyingUnited StatesBusiness and politicsPublic opinionPower (Social sciences)Pressure groupsLobbying322/.3/0973Smith Mark A(Mark Alan),1970-1805656MiAaPQMiAaPQMiAaPQBOOK9910970061303321American business and political power4354385UNINA