Chapter 1 - Five Principles of Politics

Question 1

What are the five principles of politics?

Answer 1

1. Rationality Principle
2. Institution Principle
3. Collective Action Principle
4. Policy Principle
5. History Principle

Question 2

Describe the Rationality Principle

Answer 2

• All political behavior has a purpose.
• Actions of legislators are instrumental
• electoral connection: elected officials are motivated by re-election; will keep constituents happy.

Question 3

Describe the Institution Principle

Answer 3

• Institutions = rules and procedures that provide incentives for political behavior
• Political institutions are full of specialized jurisdictions.
• Institutions structure politics.

Question 4

Describe the Collective Action Principle

Answer 4

• ## the pooling of resources and coordination of effort and activity by a group of people to achieve a common goal(s).

Question 5

Describe the Policy Principle

Answer 5

The link between individual goals, institutional arrangements, collective action and policy outcomes.

• policies are politically crafted according to both institutional procedures and individual aspirations.
• change is very difficult in the US due to the complexity of its government.
• e.g. very difficult to successfully get an amendment through.

Question 6

Describe the History Principle

Answer 6

History can shape political identity and influence people’s decisions.
(e.g. Jews with FDR and the Democrats)
Path dependency - the idea that certain possibilities are made more or less likely because of the historical path taken.

Question 7

What are the four powers institutions can provide to politicians in pursuit of public policies?

Answer 7

1. Agenda/veto power
2. Delegation
3. Jurisdiction
4. Decisiveness

Question 8

What is instrumental behavior?

Answer 8

Behavior done with foresight

Question 9

What is a principal-agent relationship?

Answer 9

Relationship between a principal and his/her agent. This relationship may be affected by the fact that each is motivated by self-interest, yet their interests may not be well aligned.

Question 10

What is government?

Answer 10

Institutions and procedures through which a land and its people are ruled.

Question 11

What is autocracy?

Answer 11

A form of government in which a single individual rules.

Question 12

What is oligarchy?

Answer 12

A form of government in which a small group of landowners, military officers, or wealthy merchants controls most of the governing decisions.

Question 13

What is democracy?

Answer 13

A system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the selection of key public officials.

Question 14

What is a constitutional government?

Answer 14

A system of rule in which formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of the government.

Question 15

What is an authoritarian government?

Answer 15

A system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of other social institutions.

Question 16

What is the difference between constitutional and totalitarian governments?

Answer 16

Constitutional governments (e.g. USA) are limited by the constitution, however totalitarian governments (e.g. North Korea and Nazi Germany) have no formal limits on their power.

Question 17

Informal bargaining v. formal bargaining

Answer 17

Informal: not a legally binding agreement, not any organized effort.
formal: governed by rules (e.g. who makes first offer, time to consider, counteroffers, etc.) - associated with events that take place in official institutions.

Question 18

What is free riding?

Answer 18

Enjoying the benefits of some good or action while letting others bear the costs

Question 19

What is public good?

Answer 19

A good that, first, may be enjoyed by anyone if it is provided and, second, may not be denied to anyone once it has been provided.

Question 20

Why is a leadership structure essential in collective action?

Answer 20

To avoid free riding - leadership can threaten and inflict punishments.

Question 21

Apply five principles of politics to the Articles of Confederation and discuss why the articles failed.

Answer 21

Collective Action - issues with voting because not all states could be present at meetings (difficult to travel from far away states). Transportation and information of votes were difficult.
Rationality - North/South states had very different ideologies which made decisions difficult.
Institution - Didn’t have presidency, judiciary etc. Three separate branches weren’t set up the way they are now.
History - didn’t have much of a history yet, Only had what happened/was happening in England as information.
Policy - States were very separate, had their own currency, entered their own national treaties, etc.