10.03.2015 - 02:16 [ Cambridge Journals Online ]

Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens

Table of Contents – September 2014 – Volume 12, Issue 03
Multivariate analysis indicates that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy, while average citizens and mass-based interest groups have little or no independent influence. The results provide substantial support for theories of Economic-Elite Domination and for theories of Biased Pluralism, but not for theories of Majoritarian Electoral Democracy or Majoritarian Pluralism.