The Logic of American Politics: Chapter 1

bicamericalism

the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers that share power

what two groups make up congress?

house of representatives and senate

cabinet

the formal group of presidential advisers who head the major departments and agencies of the federal government. cabinet members are chosen by the president and approved by the senate.

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 goods

goods that are collectively produced and freely available for anyone’s consumption. (ex: national defense)

conformity cost

the difference between what a person ideally would prefer and what the group with which that person makes collective decisions actually does. individuals pay this whenever collective decisions produce policy outcomes that do not best serve their interests. (ex: serving overseas in military)

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.

institutional design

the construction of political institutions and processes for managing conflicts and reaching collective agreements between competing interests.

offices

subdivisions of some government departments that confer on its occupants specific authority and responsibilities.

parliamentary government

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

prisoner’s dilemma

a situation in which 2 (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 anyone’s consumption.

referendum

an approach to direct democracy in which a state legislature proposes a change to the state’s laws or constitution that all the voters subsequently vote on.

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.

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.

zero-sum game

as in elections, one side’s gain is the other side’s loss.