American Government American Government and Organizationand Organization
PS1301-164PS1301-164
Monday, 15 SeptemberMonday, 15 September
Plan for the lecture - Plan for the lecture -
Review concepts briefly – prisoner’s Review concepts briefly – prisoner’s dilemma, free rider, collective gooddilemma, free rider, collective good
Begin on constitutionBegin on constitution As a document setting up institutions to As a document setting up institutions to
resolve conflict of values, scarce resourcesresolve conflict of values, scarce resources
The Prisoner’s DilemmaThe Prisoner’s Dilemma
Every successful political exchange must tacitly Every successful political exchange must tacitly solve the Prisoner’s Dilemma.solve the Prisoner’s Dilemma.Each side, to get something, must typically give Each side, to get something, must typically give up something of value in return.up something of value in return.Exchanges occur because each side recognizes Exchanges occur because each side recognizes that it will be made better off.that it will be made better off.But each side also worries that its partner could But each side also worries that its partner could renege on the agreement once the partner has renege on the agreement once the partner has gotten what it wants.gotten what it wants.
Prisoner’s Dilemma: What you Prisoner’s Dilemma: What you GainGain
YOUR CHOICEYOUR CHOICE
Other’s ChoiceOther’s Choice CooperateCooperate DefectDefect
CooperateCooperate Fairly good [+ 5]Fairly good [+ 5] GoodGood [ + 10][ + 10]
DefectDefect Bad [-10]Bad [-10] Mediocre [0]Mediocre [0]
What’s the Most Rational Thing What’s the Most Rational Thing to Do?to Do?
Cooperate or Defect? [remember you don’t know Cooperate or Defect? [remember you don’t know what the other person will do]what the other person will do]If you cooperate and the other person defects If you cooperate and the other person defects you lose 10 points [-10]you lose 10 points [-10]If you defect and the other person defects you If you defect and the other person defects you both gain no points [0]both gain no points [0]If you defect and the other person cooperates If you defect and the other person cooperates you gain 10 points.you gain 10 points.What is the other person likely to do if they want What is the other person likely to do if they want to minimize the points they lose?to minimize the points they lose?
Rational DecisionRational Decision
Your benefit depends on what the other actor Your benefit depends on what the other actor does. Can you trust them to cooperate?does. Can you trust them to cooperate?
If you and the other actor are rational, you would If you and the other actor are rational, you would never cooperate. The rational decision is the one never cooperate. The rational decision is the one which best for you no matter what the other which best for you no matter what the other actor does.actor does.
In other words, it wouldn’t be rational for you to In other words, it wouldn’t be rational for you to cooperate and expect the other actor to cooperate and expect the other actor to cooperate. cooperate.
Go to this website to play a game Go to this website to play a game based on the prisoner’s dilemma:based on the prisoner’s dilemma:http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/playground/pd.htmlhttp://serendip.brynmawr.edu/playground/pd.html
Other concepts:Other concepts:
Free-riderFree-rider
Collective goodCollective good
Collective goods, action and the Collective goods, action and the free riderfree rider
Collective goods:Collective goods: - cannot exclude anyone from - cannot exclude anyone from enjoying. E.g. public roads and highways, public schools, enjoying. E.g. public roads and highways, public schools, reduced tax rates, police protection (at least in theory). reduced tax rates, police protection (at least in theory). collective good vs. private goodcollective good vs. private good -- can be made available -- can be made available only to selected people, usually only those who pay for only to selected people, usually only those who pay for them. E.g. toll roads and bridges, private schools, and them. E.g. toll roads and bridges, private schools, and private security. private security. The tendency to sit back and let others do the work to try The tendency to sit back and let others do the work to try to obtain a collective good is know as the to obtain a collective good is know as the free rider free rider problemproblem. Why should anyone put in time, effort or money . Why should anyone put in time, effort or money to achieve something that others are working for or that to achieve something that others are working for or that others will benefit from? others will benefit from?
Designing a Political SystemDesigning a Political System
Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation Our first government was a Our first government was a confederationconfederation
– a highly decentralized governmental – a highly decentralized governmental system in which the national government system in which the national government derives limited authority from the states derives limited authority from the states rather than directly from the citizenry.rather than directly from the citizenry.
Majority Rule vs. Minority RightsMajority Rule vs. Minority Rights Threat of tyrannyThreat of tyranny
Parliamentary system vs. Separation of Parliamentary system vs. Separation of PowersPowers
The Legislative BranchThe Legislative Branch
Unicameral vs. BicameralismUnicameral vs. Bicameralism
Representation based on population vs. Representation based on population vs. state state
The Virginia PlanThe Virginia Plan
Its centerpiece was a Its centerpiece was a bicameralbicameral legislature. legislature. Members of the lower chamber apportioned among Members of the lower chamber apportioned among
the states by population & directly elected.the states by population & directly elected. Lower chamber would elect members of the upper Lower chamber would elect members of the upper
chamber from lists generated by the state chamber from lists generated by the state legislatures.legislatures.
The New Jersey PlanThe New Jersey Plan
These two groups coalesced around an alternative These two groups coalesced around an alternative proposed by New Jersey delegate William Paterson in proposed by New Jersey delegate William Paterson in response to the Virginia Plan.response to the Virginia Plan.
Given its quick creation, it had its own faults: it failed to Given its quick creation, it had its own faults: it failed to propose the organization of the executive and judiciary.propose the organization of the executive and judiciary.
It perpetuated the composition and selection of It perpetuated the composition and selection of Congress as it functioned under the Articles, but it did Congress as it functioned under the Articles, but it did give Congress the power to tax. [why did small states give Congress the power to tax. [why did small states liked this?]liked this?]
The Great CompromiseThe Great CompromiseFashioning the National LegislatureFashioning the National Legislature
The committee that the convention appointed to The committee that the convention appointed to come up with a solution to the stalemate found come up with a solution to the stalemate found one that was Solomon-like in nature.one that was Solomon-like in nature.
Each side got one of the two legislative Each side got one of the two legislative chambers fashioned to its liking.chambers fashioned to its liking. The upper chamber (Senate) would be composed of The upper chamber (Senate) would be composed of
two delegates sent from each state legislature who two delegates sent from each state legislature who would serve a six-year term.would serve a six-year term.
Madison’s population-based, elective legislature Madison’s population-based, elective legislature became the House of Representatives. became the House of Representatives.
Great CompromiseGreat Compromise
Review QuestionsReview QuestionsWhy were small states suspicious of any plan to abandon the Articles? Why were small states suspicious of any plan to abandon the Articles? What were the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan? What sorts of states What were the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan? What sorts of states supported each plan and why? How did the Great Compromise attempt to satisfy both supported each plan and why? How did the Great Compromise attempt to satisfy both groups of states? groups of states? Why is the electoral college so complicated? Why is the electoral college so complicated? How did the Framers balance the powers and independence of the executive and How did the Framers balance the powers and independence of the executive and legislative branches? legislative branches? Which issues were consciously left unresolved by the Framers? Why? Which issues were consciously left unresolved by the Framers? Why? Why did Northern delegates compromise with Southern delegates on the issue of Why did Northern delegates compromise with Southern delegates on the issue of slavery? slavery? What mechanisms for constitutional amendment were included in the Constitution? What mechanisms for constitutional amendment were included in the Constitution? Why were multiple methods included? Why were multiple methods included? According to James Madison, what are "factions"? What problems do they cause for According to James Madison, what are "factions"? What problems do they cause for government? How can they be eliminated? How can the effects of faction be government? How can they be eliminated? How can the effects of faction be minimized? minimized? In In FederalistFederalist No. 51, why did Madison argue that it was necessary to separate No. 51, why did Madison argue that it was necessary to separate governmental authority among several branches? governmental authority among several branches?
