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The Political Fallout of Taking a Stand: The President, Congress, and the Schiavo Case
Author(s) -
HAIDERMARKEL DONALD P.,
CARR CAROL K.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
presidential studies quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.337
H-Index - 5
eISSN - 1741-5705
pISSN - 0360-4918
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-5705.2007.02606.x
Subject(s) - presidential system , politics , political science , public administration , government (linguistics) , intervention (counseling) , public opinion , divided government , law , psychology , philosophy , linguistics , psychiatry
Federal government involvement in the case of terminally ill Terri Schiavo provides an interesting opportunity to explore the potential impact of specific institutional actions on public approval of those institutions. We analyze national survey data from the period of federal intervention and a poll conducted several months later. Our analyses, which account for time and exposure to political news, suggest that presidential and congressional actions in the case were associated with a decline in approval for the president and congressional leaders. Thus, the president and Congress can pay a political price when they take high‐profile actions a significant majority of the public opposes.