POLS Week 2

Regulation

________: Setting up rules limiting access to a common resource and monitoring and penalizing those who violate them.

Prisoners Dilemma

________: A situation in which two (or more) actors can not agree to cooperate for fear that the other will find its interest best served by reneging on an agreement.

Direct Democracy

________: A system of government in which citizens make policy decisions by voting on legislation themselves rather than by delegating that authority to their representatives.

Compromise

________: Settlement in which each side concedes some of its preferences to secure others.

Politics

________: The process through which individuals and groups reach agreement on a course of common, or collective, action- even as they disagree on the intended goals of that action.

Initiative

________: An approach to direct democracy in which a proposal is placed on an election ballot when the requisite number of registered voters have signed petitions.

Referendum

________: An approach to direct democracy in which a state legislature proposes a change to the states laws or constitution that all the voters subsequently vote on.

Free rider

________ Problem: A situation in which individuals can receive the benefits from a collective activity whether or not they helped to pay for it, leaving them with no incentive to contribute.

Tyranny

________: A form of government in which the ruling power exploits its authority and permits little popular control.

Individuals

________ pay conformity costs whenever collective decisions produce policy outcomes that do not best serve their interests.

Coordination

________ remains a prerequisite for effective collective action even after the disincentives to individual participation (that is, prisoners dilemma problems) have been solved.

Constitution

________: A document outlining the formal rules and institutions of government and the limits placed on its powers.

Conformity Costs

________: The difference between what a person ideally would prefer and what the group with which that person makes collective decisions does.

Coalition

________: An alliance of unlike- minded individuals or groups to achieve some common purpose such as lobbying, legislating, or campaigning for the election of public officials.

Private Goods

________: Benefits and services over which the owner has full control of their use.

Republic

________: A form of democracy in which power is vested in elected representatives.

Government

________: The institutions and procedures through which people are ruled.

Preference

________: Individuals choices, reflecting economic situation, religious values, ethnic identity, or other valued interests.

actual influence

Power: a politicians ________ over others whose cooperation she needs to achieve her political goals.

Parliamentary government

________: A form of government in which the chief executive is chosen by the majority party or by a coalition of parties in the legislature.

Cabinet members

________ are chosen by the president and approved by the Senate.

Representative Government

________: A political system in which citizens select government officials who, acting as their agents, deliberate and commit the citizenry to a course of collective action.

Cabinet

________: The formal group of presidential advisers who head the major departments and agencies of the federal government.

Transaction Costs

________: The costs of doing political business reflected in the time and effort required to compare preferences and negotiate compromises in making collective decisions.

Coordination

________: The act of organizing a group to achieve a common goal.

Authority

the acknowledged right to make a particular decision

Bargaining

A form of negotiation in which two or more parties who disagree propose exchanges and concessions to find a course of acceptable collective action

Cabinet

The formal group of presidential advisers who head the major departments and agencies of the federal government

Coalition

An alliance of unlike-minded individuals or groups to achieve some common purpose such as lobbying, legislating, or campaigning for the election of public officials

Collective action

An action taken by a group of like-minded individuals to achieve a common goal

Collective goods

Goods that are collectively produced and freely available for anyones consumption

Compromise

Settlement in which each side concedes some of its preferences to secure others

Conformity Costs

The difference between what a person ideally would prefer and what the group with which that person makes collective decisions does

Constitution

A document outlining the formal rules and institutions of government and the limits placed on its powers

Coordination

The act of organizing a group to achieve a common goal

Direct Democracy

A system of government in which citizens make policy decisions by voting on legislation themselves rather than by delegating that authority to their representatives

Free rider Problem

A situation in which individuals can receive the benefits from a collective activity whether or not they helped to pay for it, leaving them with no incentive to contribute

Government

The institutions and procedures through which people are ruled

Initiative

An approach to direct democracy in which a proposal is placed on an election ballot when the requisite number of registered voters have signed petitions

Parliamentary government

A form of government in which the chief executive is chosen by the majority party or by a coalition of parties in the legislature

Politics

The process through which individuals and groups reach agreement on a course of common, or collective, action-even as they disagree on the intended goals of that action

Power

a politicians actual influence over others whose cooperation she needs to achieve her political goals

Preference

Individuals choices, reflecting economic situation, religious values, ethnic identity, or other valued interests

Prisoners Dilemma

A situation in which two (or more) actors cannot agree to cooperate for fear that the other will find its interest best served by reneging on an agreement

Private Goods

Benefits and services over which the owner has full control of their use

Privatize

To prevent a common resource from being overexploited by tying the benefit of its consumption to its cost

Public Goods

Goods collectively produced and freely available for anyones consumption

Referendum

An approach to direct democracy in which a state legislature proposes a change to the states laws or constitution that all the voters subsequently vote on

Regulation

Setting up rules limiting access to a common resource and monitoring and penalizing those who violate them

Representative Government

A political system in which citizens select government officials who, acting as their agents, deliberate and commit the citizenry to a course of collective action

Republic

A form of democracy in which power is vested in elected representatives

Separation of Powers

The distribution of government powers among several political institutions

Tragedy of the Commons

A situation in which group members overexploit a common resource, causing its destruction

Transaction Costs

The costs of doing political business reflected in the time and effort required to compare preferences and negotiate compromises in making collective decisions

Tyranny

A form of government in which the ruling power exploits its authority and permits little popular control