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Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Dissertations Graduate College 12-2000 The Federal Election Commission: An Analysis of Administrative Behavior Maurice C. Sheppard Western Michigan University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations Part of the American Politics Commons Recommended Citation Sheppard, Maurice C., "The Federal Election Commission: An Analysis of Administrative Behavior" (2000). Dissertations. 1484. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/1484 This Dissertation-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION: AN ANALYSIS OF ADMINISTRATIVE BEHAVIOR by Maurice C. Sheppard A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Political Science Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan December 2000 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. Bell & Howell Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number 9988439 Copyright 2000 by Sheppard, Maurice Cortez All rights reserved. UMI* UMI Microform9988439 Copyright 2001 by Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. Ail rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Copyright by Maurice C. Sheppard 2000 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank the people who helped with the completion of this research. First, I would like to thank my committee chair and members. To Dr. Chet Rogers, thank you for heading my committee and providing the guidance and leadership necessary to complete the dissertation. To the members of my committee—Dr. Peter Kobrak, Dr. Peter Renstrom, Dr. Neil Pinney, and Dr. Kevin Corder—your scholarly remarks are appreciated. Second, I would like to thank my family. To my parents John and Kathleen Sheppard, and the entire Sheppard family, thank you for your encouragement, love, and support To Holly, Isaiah, and Loretta Davis, thank you for your understanding and friendship. The completion of this project is not the result of one individual's effort, but of all those mentioned above. Maurice C Sheppard h Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS............................................................................ ii LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................... v LIST OF FIGURES........................................................................................ vi CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION........................................................................... 1 Significance of the Research....................................................... 2 Statement of the Problem......................................................... 3 Theoretical Framework.............................................................. 4 Data and Methodology.............................................................. 5 Research Definitions and Limitations....................................... 6 Plan of this Research.................................................................. 8 n . A BRIEF HISTORY OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE REGULATION.... 9 Electoral Policy........................................................................... 10 Classic Issues .............................................................................. 13 Contemporary Issues................................................................. 26 Conclusion.................................................................................. 31 IE. THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSIION................................. 33 The Federal Election Commission ..................................... 34 FEC Administration and Enforcement of the Law__________ 41 Conclusion_________________________________________ 57 iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table of Contents—continued IV. THE POLTHCAL-ADMINISTRATIVE RELATIONSHIP............... 59 The Analysis of Administrative Behavior................................. 60 Political Tools of Influence......................................................... 63 Conclusion................................................................................. 67 V. A THEORETICAL OVERVIEW OF THE FEC................................. 68 The Nature of Organizations..................................................... 69 The Organizational Environment of the FEC............................ 79 Hypotheses................................................................................. 88 Conclusion.................................................................................. 91 VL METHODOLOGY............................................................................ 92 Research Design------------------------- 93 Data Collection and Analysis.................................................... 105 Conclusion.................................................................................. 108 VH. EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS.................................................................. 109 Findings ..................................................................................... 109 Discussion................................................................................... 120 Conclusion.................................................................................. 121 VIH. CONCLUSION................................................................................ 123 Summary... .................................................................................. 124 Contributions............................................................................. 128 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table of Contents—continued Prospective Research................................................................. 130 Conclusion................................................................................. 132 APPENDIX Protocol Clearance From the Human Subjects Institutional Review Board.................................................................................... 134 BIBLIOGRAPHY.......................................................................................... 136 v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF TABLES 1. Political Party Fundraising, 1983-1996 ................................ 2. FEC Database Entries and Staffing, 1986-1998 .................... 3. Federal Campaign Finance Legislation, 1976-1999 ............. 4. Appointment of FEC Commissioners, 1976-1999................ 5. Selected FEC Supreme Court Cases, 1976-1999................... 6. Political Influence of FEC Enforcement (MURs), 1976-1999 7. Summary of Analysis Findings ........................................... Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF FIGURES 1. Organization Chart of the FEC.......................................................... 37 2. Organization Chart of the Office of General Counsel....................... 41 3. FEC Enforcement Process.................................................................. 51 4. Number of Matters-Under-Review (MURs) Opened, 1975-1999 ...... 53 5. Intra-Organizational Network of the FEC.......................................

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