Date of Award

Spring 5-3-2024

Document Type

Honors Project

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Political Science and International Affairs

Department Chair or Program Director

Dr. Rosalyn Cooperman

First Advisor

Jared McDonald

Second Advisor

Rosalyn Cooperman

Third Advisor

N/A

Fourth Advisor

N/A

Major or Concentration

Political Science

Abstract

How effective can a president be in promoting his or her policies through the bureaucracy? Most theories postulate the president has influence – via appointees, budgeting, and executive orders. This paper unpacks the president’s influence on the bureaucracy by analyzing President Biden’s effect on antitrust, particularly with regards to addressing labor concerns. Biden appears to depart from previous presidential administrations due to his heightened emphasis on labor’s need for protection and antitrust law as the optimal vehicle for helping workers. The data, pulled from federal and state court antitrust cases since 2000, relies on textual analysis with regards to the frequency of labor terminology. President Biden’s dedication towards deconcentrating the labor market appears to increase labor considerations in antitrust suits, as the data demonstrate a rise in terms related to labor during the Biden Administration. Labor terminology was increasing throughout the past two decades but experienced a bump in its rate of increase during President Biden’s first term. Hence, the president’s effects on antitrust and the bureaucracy appear persuasive based on the considered evidence. These findings indicate the bureaucracy is swayed by political headwinds, making consistent regulation difficult.

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