The Friction Model

Part One: The friction model is the idea that there are various sources that work together to keep policies in place so that the status quo prevails for extended periods of time. There are many different players within the friction model that try to help protect the status quo, but other ideas that try to go against the model and change it. The friction model has a head start as it is much easier to protect the status quo than to change it. A major problem policy changer’s face is lack of attention. It is difficult for these lobbyists to get attention from members of congress, and even media outlets causing most issues to die in their tracks before even making it to a floor vote. This makes it easier for status quo defenders because the only
As mentioned above lack of attention often kills the movement before it can even muster enough influence to move forward. Baumgartner et al mention in chapter six the idea of saliency on issues. For example one of the lobbying issues we talked about in the first week of school was the sex toy vs concealed carry issue going on in Texas. College students marched around campus protesting that there was a law that people could conceal carry a weapon, but not openly carry around a sex toy. They made national news with this protest getting much needed attention to keep their challenge alive. This type of attention forced the status quo defenders to have to act meaning that not only did their issue get many more viewers, but they also got the other side to participate which means the chance of failure lowers significantly. This is a form of passing the threshold, their issue got the attention it needed to go on to the next step of negotiations and conversations in hopes making minor or significant changes to a law. If they were to succeed in this endeavor they would pass another threshold in the progress and
Gatekeepers are the different leaders within congress and other institutions that control the agendas. They cause friction with the fact that they can control agendas, and if they do not agree, or have a different stance on issue they can effectively set up subcommittees to kill the bill or completely put it off from being heard at all. With this power generally it will protect the status quo, unless it is something that the party were to want changed which it could give the bill or policy the upper hand in the battle, but generally it is another way to protect the status quo. Special interests are interests groups on either side of an issue. The way special interests cause friction is by causing hyperpluralism. Hyperpluralism is a negative effect of the pluralist theory where there are so many groups participating in the conversation that no one can come to an agreement causing a stalemate and the status quo