Introduction to the American Political System (POLS 1105H) David A. Hughes, Ph.D. University of Georgia [email protected] January 14, 2016 David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 1 / 11
Introduction to the AmericanPolitical System (POLS 1105H)
David A. Hughes, Ph.D.
University of Georgia
January 14, 2016
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 1 / 11
Objectives
Objectives
• By the end of this lecture, students should have a betterunderstanding of. . .
1. The principles of politics and political systems,2. The institutions that animate those political systems,3. How citizen preferences interact with each others’ and political
institutions and create a need for government,4. Types of collective action problems, and5. Types of government.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 2 / 11
Objectives
Objectives
• By the end of this lecture, students should have a betterunderstanding of. . .
1. The principles of politics and political systems,2. The institutions that animate those political systems,3. How citizen preferences interact with each others’ and political
institutions and create a need for government,4. Types of collective action problems, and5. Types of government.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 2 / 11
Objectives
Objectives
• By the end of this lecture, students should have a betterunderstanding of. . .
1. The principles of politics and political systems,2. The institutions that animate those political systems,3. How citizen preferences interact with each others’ and political
institutions and create a need for government,4. Types of collective action problems, and5. Types of government.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 2 / 11
Objectives
Objectives
• By the end of this lecture, students should have a betterunderstanding of. . .
1. The principles of politics and political systems,2. The institutions that animate those political systems,3. How citizen preferences interact with each others’ and political
institutions and create a need for government,4. Types of collective action problems, and5. Types of government.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 2 / 11
Objectives
Objectives
• By the end of this lecture, students should have a betterunderstanding of. . .
1. The principles of politics and political systems,2. The institutions that animate those political systems,3. How citizen preferences interact with each others’ and political
institutions and create a need for government,4. Types of collective action problems, and5. Types of government.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 2 / 11
Objectives
Objectives
• By the end of this lecture, students should have a betterunderstanding of. . .
1. The principles of politics and political systems,2. The institutions that animate those political systems,3. How citizen preferences interact with each others’ and political
institutions and create a need for government,4. Types of collective action problems, and5. Types of government.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 2 / 11
Understanding Politics
Understanding Politics
• “Politics” refers to the process of making collective decisions toallocate public resources and to create and enforce rules for theoperation of society.
• A “Political System” refers to the way a society organizes andmanages its politics across various levels of public authority.
• Politics is fundamentally about satisfying people’s needs or wants,which we may say are governed by their “preferences.”
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 3 / 11
Understanding Politics
Understanding Politics
• “Politics” refers to the process of making collective decisions toallocate public resources and to create and enforce rules for theoperation of society.
• A “Political System” refers to the way a society organizes andmanages its politics across various levels of public authority.
• Politics is fundamentally about satisfying people’s needs or wants,which we may say are governed by their “preferences.”
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 3 / 11
Understanding Politics
Understanding Politics
• “Politics” refers to the process of making collective decisions toallocate public resources and to create and enforce rules for theoperation of society.
• A “Political System” refers to the way a society organizes andmanages its politics across various levels of public authority.
• Politics is fundamentally about satisfying people’s needs or wants,which we may say are governed by their “preferences.”
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 3 / 11
Understanding Politics
Institutions
• In light of people’s conflicting preferences, there must exist somemeans of making group (collective) choices.
• “Institutions” are rules or sets of rules or practices that determinehow people make collective decisions.
• These institutions span the branches of government, specificprocedures for making government function, or even the groupsresponsible for governance.
• We may think of the “Political System” as a bundle of institutionswithin which individuals seek to further their interests.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 4 / 11
Understanding Politics
Institutions
• In light of people’s conflicting preferences, there must exist somemeans of making group (collective) choices.
• “Institutions” are rules or sets of rules or practices that determinehow people make collective decisions.
• These institutions span the branches of government, specificprocedures for making government function, or even the groupsresponsible for governance.
• We may think of the “Political System” as a bundle of institutionswithin which individuals seek to further their interests.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 4 / 11
Understanding Politics
Institutions
• In light of people’s conflicting preferences, there must exist somemeans of making group (collective) choices.
• “Institutions” are rules or sets of rules or practices that determinehow people make collective decisions.
• These institutions span the branches of government, specificprocedures for making government function, or even the groupsresponsible for governance.
• We may think of the “Political System” as a bundle of institutionswithin which individuals seek to further their interests.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 4 / 11
Understanding Politics
Institutions
• In light of people’s conflicting preferences, there must exist somemeans of making group (collective) choices.
• “Institutions” are rules or sets of rules or practices that determinehow people make collective decisions.
• These institutions span the branches of government, specificprocedures for making government function, or even the groupsresponsible for governance.
• We may think of the “Political System” as a bundle of institutionswithin which individuals seek to further their interests.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 4 / 11
Collective Action Problems
Collective Action Problems and the Need for Government
• A “Collective Action Problem” is a situation in which there is aconflict between group goals and individual goals of self-interest.
• Some examples: The dirty kitchen, a mattress in the road, taxes, etc.Other examples?
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 5 / 11
Collective Action Problems
Collective Action Problems and the Need for Government
• A “Collective Action Problem” is a situation in which there is aconflict between group goals and individual goals of self-interest.
• Some examples: The dirty kitchen, a mattress in the road, taxes, etc.Other examples?
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 5 / 11
Collective Action Problems
The Hobbesian State of Nature
• Without some means ofcoordinating social interests, chaosis a likely result.
• Enter Hobbes’ “Leviathan.”
• Is Syria in a “State of Nature”?
Thomas Hobbes
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 6 / 11
Collective Action Problems
Types of Collective Action Problems
• Free-Riding
• The “Prisoners’ Dilemma”
• Coordination Problems
• Unstable Coalitions
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 7 / 11
Collective Action Problems
Types of Collective Action Problems
• Free-Riding
• The “Prisoners’ Dilemma”
• Coordination Problems
• Unstable Coalitions
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 7 / 11
Collective Action Problems
Types of Collective Action Problems
• Free-Riding
• The “Prisoners’ Dilemma”
• Coordination Problems
• Unstable Coalitions
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 7 / 11
Collective Action Problems
Types of Collective Action Problems
• Free-Riding
• The “Prisoners’ Dilemma”
• Coordination Problems
• Unstable Coalitions
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 7 / 11
Principal-Agent Problems
Problems in Principal-Agency
• Despite the fact that government intervention can correct many socialproblems, that very interference introduces its own set of problems.
• These “government failures” are due to the “Principal-AgentProblem,” a situation where the representative does not share thesame preferences as the represented and has the opportunity to actout of self-interest.
• Examples from federal institutions and bureaucracies.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 8 / 11
Principal-Agent Problems
Problems in Principal-Agency
• Despite the fact that government intervention can correct many socialproblems, that very interference introduces its own set of problems.
• These “government failures” are due to the “Principal-AgentProblem,” a situation where the representative does not share thesame preferences as the represented and has the opportunity to actout of self-interest.
• Examples from federal institutions and bureaucracies.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 8 / 11
Principal-Agent Problems
Problems in Principal-Agency
• Despite the fact that government intervention can correct many socialproblems, that very interference introduces its own set of problems.
• These “government failures” are due to the “Principal-AgentProblem,” a situation where the representative does not share thesame preferences as the represented and has the opportunity to actout of self-interest.
• Examples from federal institutions and bureaucracies.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 8 / 11
Designing Government
The Effects of Institutional Design
• Institutions matter.
• Politics is the struggle over “whogets what, when, how.”
• How we constitute governmentmatters in how we aim to combatcollective action and principal agentproblems.
• But the interests of factions alsodetermine how we constitutegovernment.
Harold Lasswell (1936)
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 9 / 11
Designing Government
What Kind of Government?
• The U.S. Government hasadopted a representativedemocracy premised uponpopular sovereignty, naturalrights, and federalism to addresssome of the dilemmas discussedtoday.
• But this is not the only meansof pursuing the ends of thepopulace. Others include:
1. Authoritarianism
2. Monarchy
3. Dictatorship
4. One-Party State
5. Oligarchy
6. Democracy
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 10 / 11
Designing Government
What Kind of Government?
• The U.S. Government hasadopted a representativedemocracy premised uponpopular sovereignty, naturalrights, and federalism to addresssome of the dilemmas discussedtoday.
• But this is not the only meansof pursuing the ends of thepopulace. Others include:
1. Authoritarianism
2. Monarchy
3. Dictatorship
4. One-Party State
5. Oligarchy
6. Democracy
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 10 / 11
Conclusion
Conclusion
• Today we’ve learned that:
1. Individual preferences aggregate to the group level.2. But what is rational for the group may not hold for the individual.3. This paradox produces the “collective action problem” and the
“principal-agent” problem.4. Government exists in part to ameliorate these problems, principally
through institutions.5. The types of institutions governments take on are partly a function of
the very paradoxes we try to avoid in the first place.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 11 / 11
Conclusion
Conclusion
• Today we’ve learned that:
1. Individual preferences aggregate to the group level.2. But what is rational for the group may not hold for the individual.3. This paradox produces the “collective action problem” and the
“principal-agent” problem.4. Government exists in part to ameliorate these problems, principally
through institutions.5. The types of institutions governments take on are partly a function of
the very paradoxes we try to avoid in the first place.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 11 / 11
Conclusion
Conclusion
• Today we’ve learned that:
1. Individual preferences aggregate to the group level.2. But what is rational for the group may not hold for the individual.3. This paradox produces the “collective action problem” and the
“principal-agent” problem.4. Government exists in part to ameliorate these problems, principally
through institutions.5. The types of institutions governments take on are partly a function of
the very paradoxes we try to avoid in the first place.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 11 / 11
Conclusion
Conclusion
• Today we’ve learned that:
1. Individual preferences aggregate to the group level.2. But what is rational for the group may not hold for the individual.3. This paradox produces the “collective action problem” and the
“principal-agent” problem.4. Government exists in part to ameliorate these problems, principally
through institutions.5. The types of institutions governments take on are partly a function of
the very paradoxes we try to avoid in the first place.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 11 / 11
Conclusion
Conclusion
• Today we’ve learned that:
1. Individual preferences aggregate to the group level.2. But what is rational for the group may not hold for the individual.3. This paradox produces the “collective action problem” and the
“principal-agent” problem.4. Government exists in part to ameliorate these problems, principally
through institutions.5. The types of institutions governments take on are partly a function of
the very paradoxes we try to avoid in the first place.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 11 / 11
Conclusion
Conclusion
• Today we’ve learned that:
1. Individual preferences aggregate to the group level.2. But what is rational for the group may not hold for the individual.3. This paradox produces the “collective action problem” and the
“principal-agent” problem.4. Government exists in part to ameliorate these problems, principally
through institutions.5. The types of institutions governments take on are partly a function of
the very paradoxes we try to avoid in the first place.
David A. Hughes, Ph.D. (UGA) Introduction to American Politics January 14, 2016 11 / 11