On Target: Predicting Whether Defense-Related Legislation Will Follow its Intended Purpose
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Authors
Vrablic, Daniel
Issue Date
2025
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Using the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, I create a predictive theoretical
framework to determine whether or not defense-related legislation will follow its
intended purpose. I articulate the factors of the framework through an organizational
approach and test and compare my findings with two other notable pieces of defense
legislation: the National Security Act of 1947 and the War Powers Act of 1973. In
doing so, I hypothesize triggering events to which new legislation responds, internal
actors in the policy stream, and external pressures outside the policy stream are the
strongest factors that affect whether or not defense-related legislation will follow its
intended purpose when enacted into law. In applying this framework, I find these
factors to hold some predictive value, but that internal agents in the policy stream to
be the most salient in determining if a piece of defense legislation will detract from its
purpose; I find external pressures outside the policy stream hold the least predictive
value.
Description
Citation
Vrablic, Daniel. "On Target: Predicting Whether Defense-Related Legislation Will Follow its Intended Purpose." West Point Journal of Politics and Security, Volume 3 Issue 1; Spring 2025
Publisher
West Point Press