Testing the Statutory Coherence Hypothesis: The Implementation of Federal Family Planning Policy in the States

Abstract

This article tests the statutory coherence hypothesis, derived from the Sabatier and Mazmanian framework for policy implementation, within the context of the national family planning program. The statutory coherence hypothesis states that effective implementation is a function of the extent to which a statute coherently structures the implementation process. The equitable distribution of statutory benefits is defined as a condition of effective implementation. During the period of study (Fiscal Years 1976-1981), national family planning policy was embedded in four separate statutes. Implementation was operationalized in terms of interstate variation in per capita family planning expenditures under each of the four grant programs. Statutory coherence scores were developed for each of the four enactments. The findings of this study support the statutory coherence hypothesis. Both the theoretical significance and the policy implications of these results are discussed.