One of our newer faculty members of the Department of Political Science, Assistant Professor Melinda "Molly" Ritchie, discussed her background, upcoming book, and thoughts on living in Columbus.
1. What kickstarted your interest in political science as a discipline? Was there a teacher, class, book, event, etc. that made you want to learn more?
My interest in politics started when I was a page in the US House of Representatives in high school and continued during a semester-in-Washington program at Smith College, my alma mater. At that point, I was more interested in working in government and politics and had not considered pursuing a career in academia. While I went on to work for a member of Congress for a few years, professors at Smith College had encouraged my interest in research in political psychology. I originally pursued political psychology during graduate school, although my interests shifted to American institutions and public policy. I also met some inspiring professors at Wittenberg University when I was an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer there who made me realize I might want to pursue a PhD.
2. What has been one of your favorite moments as a professor?
I really enjoy the moments when I am interacting with students in class, and I can see or hear their surprise at something I just told them that they didn’t know before. I love it when I hear them collectively gasp! I had a student in my lecture this past fall who responded to my question about whether Congress should get rid of the filibuster by saying that he came into the class with one opinion and had changed his mind over the course of the lecture. It seems so rare for people to change their minds these days and even more rare for them to admit they changed their minds. The reason the student’s comment was exciting to me was not so much that he changed his mind, but that the class discussion gotten him thinking and questioning his assumptions!
3. Can you talk about what research or projects are you working on? Can you share more about your book manuscript?
My book, Backdoor Lawmaking: Unseparated Powers and Inter-branch Policymaking in the United States, examines how members of Congress use the federal bureaucracy as a backdoor for policymaking. I show how lawmakers pressure agencies to make policy changes in order to avoid obstacles in the legislative process. Understanding this inter-branch collusion is important because it allows members of Congress to evade accountability and to bypass the legislative process established in the U.S. Constitution.
In order to collect data for the book, I needed to submit dozens of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, and I include several accounts from the FOIA records as well as other primary sources from members of Congress. The records illustrate why and how legislators exploit the separation of powers to advance their policy objectives. In fact, members of Congress are incorporating agency regulations into a broader strategy of policymaking that spans branches of government. They use agency regulations as a substitute for legislative action, pressure agencies to delay and block the implementation of law until new legislation is passed, and work with agencies to draft legislation. The bureaucracy also offers lawmakers a discreet way to represent controversial interests outside of the formal constraints of Congress. This inter-branch strategy for policymaking is far hazier than the separation of powers described in the Constitution.
I am currently working on revisions to the book, and it will likely come out in 2023. I am also working on a paper with a former graduate student on the strategies members of Congress use to influence policy and how they choose whether to advance their priorities in statute or other, less orthodox channels.
4. How do you like the city of Columbus and Ohio State? Do you have any favorite places in the area to go to?
I really like Columbus and Ohio State. Columbus is the right size for me, and I love that I have running trails walking distance from my apartment and near my office on campus. I go for long runs along the Scioto River by the Scioto Audubon Metro Park and the Olentangy Trail. I also really enjoy living in German Village and spending time at Schiller Park. I grew up in Western New York State, so I’m glad to be back in this region of the country after spending several years in Southern California.
5. What is your proudest accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment will be when I’m holding my book in my hands! I’ve been working on the project for years, but I still find the backdoor ways policy is made fascinating. Most of us only see the tip of the iceberg.
