Ch. 4 Discussion Questions: The Development of U.S. Wildlife Policies and Legislation
Then discuss what would happen if the Endangered Species Act were proposed for legislation today. Would such legislation pass now? Why or why not? If so, how would it likely differ from the current version of it? Why?
2. Identify some wildlife conservation policy issue that has raised controversy so that it has become a political issue at the Federal or state level. Analyze the major groups that have an interest in this issue. Are there coalitions among these groups concerning this issue? Analyze the “political resources” of these groups—what are their major assets? Is there a “conservation-coalition?” Is there an opposing coalition? What was the outcome of the controversy? Assess how skillfully these coalitions employed their resources.
3. Trace the history of some wildlife conservation issue through history. What are the forces that affected this issue? What, if any, were the major turning points concerning the issue? Did a “punctuated equilibrium” occur concerning this issue?
4. Read and analyze some legislation that pertains to wildlife conservation. One possibility concerns national wildlife refuges though you may select some other issue if you prefer. For the refuges, read the following U.S. General Accountability analysis of national wildlife refuges: U.S. General Accountability Office. National wildlife refuges: Continuing problems with incompatible uses call for bold action [Internet]. 1989 [cited 2012 Oct 11]; Available from: www.gao.gov/assets/150/148073.pdf After you have selected your issue and studied it, answer the following questions: What were the goals of this legislation? What conflicts have occurred concerning this legislation? What lessons can be learned about the legislative process from this case?
5. The book cites some survey research data concerning issues related to wildlife conservation such as public support for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Use this case or some other issue and study the data available concerning it from internet sources. (For example, consult Gallup.com, www.publicagenda.com, and other sources). What does the data show concerning support for wildlife conservation? Is it a majority position? What groups (e.g., based on political party affiliation, region, and other variables) tend to support wildlife conservation and what groups tend to oppose it? How important a role do you think public support plays in policymaking concerning this issue?
6. Analyze wildlife conservation policy in some state or region. What are the major divisions that differentiate supporters from opponents for this policy in the state or region? For example, are they based on location (e.g., rural versus urban), partisan (Republican versus Democratic), economic or other interests (e.g., landowners versus environmentalists)? Are these divisions stable or shifting? For example, are demographic changes and occupational shifts in the composition of the state or region affecting policy in this area now and are they likely to do so in the future? Why?
7. Read the following publication concerning “ballot box biology:” Hart, David. The hocus pocus of ballot box biology [Internet]. National Rifle Association: Institute for Legislative Action; 2005 [cited 2012 Oct 30]; Available from: www.nraila.org/hunting/articles/the-hocus-pocus-of-ballot-box-biology.aspx?s=ballot+box+biology&st=&ps and any other online sources that you can identify concerning this topic. Take a position: do you support the use of public referenda to set policy related to wildlife conservation? Why or why not? Defend your position with references to specific referenda.
8. The book describes alternative approaches to making wildlife conservation policy such as professionally dominated policy in which professionals in wildlife agencies make the decisions versus a stakeholder approach in which policy-making is based on the attempt to build consensus among (often opposed) groups with active interests in the issue. Take a position: which approach do you prefer? Is there another alternative that you prefer? If so, describe and defend why this approach would be better.
9. One of the major devices used by presidents to preserve wildlife has been the Antiquities Act. Read the following article by Babbitt, Bruce. What the president can do right now for conservation. High Country News [Internet]. 2014 May 26 [cited 2014 May 26]; Available from: http://edition.pagesuiteprofessional.co.uk//launch.aspx?eid=7880409f-357f-4541–9590-334daf554402
Many conservatives want to constrain or even abolish such use of the Antiquities Act. Take a position on whether you support the Act as it has been applied in the past or do you think it needs modification or should be abolished. Defend your position.
- Review the history and politics of the passage of the Endangered Species Act as well as consulting online sources that discuss its passage including: (A) U.S. Senate. Committee on Environment and Public Works. Prepared by the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress. A legislative history of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, As Amended in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1980 [Internet]. 1982 [cited 2016 Apr 10]. Report No.: Serial N. 97-6; Available from: www.eswr.com/docs/lh/leghist_1_10a.pdf (B) U.S. Senate. Senate Hearing 108–356 Endangered Species Act: Review of the consultation process required by section 7. Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water of the Committee on Environment and Public Works United States Senate 187th Congress First Session on an Examination of the Consulting Process required by Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act June 25, 2003 [Internet]. Sect. Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water of the Committee on Environment and Public Works United States Senate Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office; Jun 25, 2003; Available from: https://bulk.resource.org/gpo.gov/hearings/108s/92378.pdf
Then discuss what would happen if the Endangered Species Act were proposed for legislation today. Would such legislation pass now? Why or why not? If so, how would it likely differ from the current version of it? Why?
2. Identify some wildlife conservation policy issue that has raised controversy so that it has become a political issue at the Federal or state level. Analyze the major groups that have an interest in this issue. Are there coalitions among these groups concerning this issue? Analyze the “political resources” of these groups—what are their major assets? Is there a “conservation-coalition?” Is there an opposing coalition? What was the outcome of the controversy? Assess how skillfully these coalitions employed their resources.
3. Trace the history of some wildlife conservation issue through history. What are the forces that affected this issue? What, if any, were the major turning points concerning the issue? Did a “punctuated equilibrium” occur concerning this issue?
4. Read and analyze some legislation that pertains to wildlife conservation. One possibility concerns national wildlife refuges though you may select some other issue if you prefer. For the refuges, read the following U.S. General Accountability analysis of national wildlife refuges: U.S. General Accountability Office. National wildlife refuges: Continuing problems with incompatible uses call for bold action [Internet]. 1989 [cited 2012 Oct 11]; Available from: www.gao.gov/assets/150/148073.pdf After you have selected your issue and studied it, answer the following questions: What were the goals of this legislation? What conflicts have occurred concerning this legislation? What lessons can be learned about the legislative process from this case?
5. The book cites some survey research data concerning issues related to wildlife conservation such as public support for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Use this case or some other issue and study the data available concerning it from internet sources. (For example, consult Gallup.com, www.publicagenda.com, and other sources). What does the data show concerning support for wildlife conservation? Is it a majority position? What groups (e.g., based on political party affiliation, region, and other variables) tend to support wildlife conservation and what groups tend to oppose it? How important a role do you think public support plays in policymaking concerning this issue?
6. Analyze wildlife conservation policy in some state or region. What are the major divisions that differentiate supporters from opponents for this policy in the state or region? For example, are they based on location (e.g., rural versus urban), partisan (Republican versus Democratic), economic or other interests (e.g., landowners versus environmentalists)? Are these divisions stable or shifting? For example, are demographic changes and occupational shifts in the composition of the state or region affecting policy in this area now and are they likely to do so in the future? Why?
7. Read the following publication concerning “ballot box biology:” Hart, David. The hocus pocus of ballot box biology [Internet]. National Rifle Association: Institute for Legislative Action; 2005 [cited 2012 Oct 30]; Available from: www.nraila.org/hunting/articles/the-hocus-pocus-of-ballot-box-biology.aspx?s=ballot+box+biology&st=&ps and any other online sources that you can identify concerning this topic. Take a position: do you support the use of public referenda to set policy related to wildlife conservation? Why or why not? Defend your position with references to specific referenda.
8. The book describes alternative approaches to making wildlife conservation policy such as professionally dominated policy in which professionals in wildlife agencies make the decisions versus a stakeholder approach in which policy-making is based on the attempt to build consensus among (often opposed) groups with active interests in the issue. Take a position: which approach do you prefer? Is there another alternative that you prefer? If so, describe and defend why this approach would be better.
9. One of the major devices used by presidents to preserve wildlife has been the Antiquities Act. Read the following article by Babbitt, Bruce. What the president can do right now for conservation. High Country News [Internet]. 2014 May 26 [cited 2014 May 26]; Available from: http://edition.pagesuiteprofessional.co.uk//launch.aspx?eid=7880409f-357f-4541–9590-334daf554402
Many conservatives want to constrain or even abolish such use of the Antiquities Act. Take a position on whether you support the Act as it has been applied in the past or do you think it needs modification or should be abolished. Defend your position.