Introduction to the AmericanPolitical System (POLS 1105H)

David A. Hughes, Ph.D.

University of Georgia

dhughes1@uga.edu

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