Chapter 1: Basic Logic of the American System — Key Concepts (VOCABULARY)

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts from Chapter 1: politics, institutional design, constitutional structure, levels of government, collective action problems, and related costs.

Politics

A process by which people in groups make decisions; the art of getting things done; not an exact science; requires compromise and bargaining.

Institutional Design

The way institutions are structured to shape incentives, determine speed, veto points, representation, branches, and who gets to govern.

Veto points

Stages in decision-making where actions can be blocked; more veto points slow policy change and influence outcomes.

Veto players

Actors who can block policy; their number and influence shape what can be enacted.

Separation of powers / Branches

Division of government powers among different branches to prevent concentration of authority; affects speed and control.

Constitution

A basic framework that establishes institutions, assigns powers, and sets rules for government; determines who has authority.

Authority

The right or legitimacy to make decisions within a political system.

Power

The ability to influence whether decisions are carried out or not.

Amendability

How easy it is to amend or replace a constitution.

Levels of government

Different layers (federal, state, local) with distinct powers and relationships in a polity.

Federal vs. unitary systems

Two models of sovereignty: federal shares powers across levels; unitary concentrates power at the center.

Collective action problem

A situation where individuals’ interests conflict with the group good, requiring coordination and sometimes enforcement.

Coordination problem

Difficulty aligning the actions of multiple actors to achieve a common outcome.

Free rider

A person who benefits from others’ contributions without paying costs.

Prisoner’s Dilemma

A coordination problem where rational self-interest leads to a worse outcome for all unless trust or repetition fosters cooperation.

Tragedy of the Commons

Overuse or depletion of shared resources when individuals maximize personal gain.

Repeat iterations

Repeated interactions that allow learning from the past to inform future decisions.

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

A Cold War deterrence concept where enough capability on both sides prevents nuclear attack.

Environmental action and the Prisoner’s Dilemma

Pollution controls are hindered by incentives to benefit from others’ emission cuts without contributing oneself.

Tragedy of the Fisheries

Overfishing by multiple actors, each seeking to maximize catch before stocks deplete.

Transaction costs

Costs (time, resources, bargaining) incurred to get things done in politics.

Conformity costs

Costs of not getting what you want due to compromise, often non-monetary (time, satisfaction).

Tradeoff

The inevitable balance between competing costs and benefits in governance.

Constitution vs. law specificity

The degree to which rules are detailed in the constitution versus in ordinary laws.

Role of levels of government

How different levels control various areas and interact, shaping policy outcomes.