University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Project Title
For one-time funding for a project on congressional nuclear policy preferences as part of a Request for Proposals (RFP) on "Understanding the Politics of Nuclear Weapons"
Date
Sep. 14, 2023
Duration
32 months
Description
Congress is assumed to defer to the president on most nuclear policy issues but increasing polarization, partisan differences, and divided control of government may be eroding this deference.As more members of Congress seek to use nuclear policy for partisan or political reasons, the president becomes less able to implement his agenda.When the United States does not speak with one voice on nuclear policy this may also erode the credibility of U.S. commitments abroad.By studying the policy preferences of members of Congress over time, this project will increase our understanding of how congressional preferences and partisan politics motivate congressional actions on nuclear policy.