Research Catalog

Title

How does Congress approach population and family planning issues? : results of qualitative interviews with legislative directors / Sally Patterson, David M. Adamson.

Author

Patterson, Sally.

Publication

Santa Monica, CA : Rand, c1999.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Additional Authors

• Adamson, David M.
• Rand Corporation.
• United States. Congress.

Description

xiii, 36 p.; 23 cm.

Summary

Congressional opinions on issues related to population are highly polarized. Approximately 90 percent of Congress consistently votes either uniformly to support or uniformly to oppose population-related legislation--so the remaining 10 percent is likely to determine the fate of such initiatives. To determine how this critical group makes its decisions, researchers interviewed a sample of legislative directors (chosen as proxies, to allow in-depth interviews). Most respondents felt that the United States should continue to play a leading role internationally, but several also stressed that their members of Congress favor increased emphasis on multilateral approaches. A majority felt that world population growth is a problem but is not urgent. Nearly unanimous support was expressed for U.S. support of voluntary family planning when it is understood to exclude abortion. Congress would benefit from research-based, factual information on a variety of international population issues.

Subject

• Birth control > Developing countries
• Birth control > United States
• Family planning > Developing countries
• Family planning > Research > United States
• Legislators > United States > Attitudes
• Population assistance, American > Developing countries
• United States. Congress

Note

• "Supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, United Nations Population Fund."

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p.35-36).

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Ch. 1. Introduction -- Ch. 2. Approach -- Ch. 3. Findings -- The Role of the United States in Global Affairs -- The United States as World Leader -- The Role of Aid in U.S. Foreign Policy -- Acceptance of Global Partnerships -- Congressional Views on Specific Population Topics -- The U.S. Role in Providing International Development Assistance -- World Population Growth and International Immigration -- Connections Between World Population Growth and U.S. Political Interests -- The Concept of "Unmet Need for Contraception" -- The Macrodemographic Issue: Population Momentum -- The U.S. Role in Providing International Family Planning Assistance -- Population Growth and Family Planning Programs -- World Population Growth Not a Compelling Problem -- Interest in International Population Programs -- U.S. Role in Addressing World Population Growth -- Support for Voluntary Family Planning Programs -- Awareness of Constituent Opinion -- Abortion as a Factor in Tempering Support -- Family Planning Assistance for Americans -- Attitude Formation and Information Sources -- Sources of Influence and Information -- Desired Types of Information and Modes of Presentation -- Ch. 4. Conclusions: Implications for Congressional Information Needs -- Appendix: Questions Asked in Qualitative Interviews with Legislative Directors.

ISBN

0833027042 (pbk.)

LCCN

^^^99184128^

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library