PS 1400 Exam 3 Review

Gridlock

Inability to enact legislation due to divided government.

Divided government

Different parties control the presidency and legislature.

Dual legitimacy

Both president and legislature claim democratic authority.

Fixed terms

Set election periods with no mid-term changes.

Polarization

Increased ideological distance between political parties.

Zero-sum elections

One candidate's win equals another's loss.

Political parties

Organizations that represent diverse political ideologies.

Moderate electorate

Voters with centrist views, avoiding extremes.

Political power

Authority to influence government decisions and policies.

Legislature

Elected body responsible for making laws.

President

Elected head of state and government.

Linz's Rule Exception

US transitioned from weak to ideologically divided parties.

Legislatures

Institutions where votes are translated into seats.

Electoral System Influence

Structure affects party representation and voter outcomes.

Two-Party System

Common outcome of Single Member District Plurality systems.

Wasted Votes

Votes for losing candidates that do not count.

Polarization

Increased ideological division among political parties.

Gridlock

Inability to pass legislation due to partisan conflict.

Chambers

Divisions of a legislature for debate and decision-making.

Bicameralism

Legislature with two chambers, like US Congress.

Electoral Districts

Geographic areas electing one or more legislators.

District Magnitude

Number of representatives elected from an electoral district.

Single Member District Plurality (SMDP)

One candidate wins by plurality in a district.

Winner Takes All System

Only the top candidate wins the seat.

Proportional Representation

Seats allocated based on percentage of votes received.

Multimember Districts

Districts electing multiple representatives, enhancing party diversity.

Party Numbers

SMDP leads to fewer parties; proportional systems allow more.

Minority Winners

Candidates winning without absolute majority of votes.

Disproportionality

Mismatch between votes received and seats won.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating district boundaries to favor a party.

Duverger's Law

SMD systems encourage two-party dominance through strategic voting.

Strategic Voting

Voting to avoid wasting votes on weaker candidates.

Thresholds

Minimum popularity needed for legislative seats.

Party List

Voters choose parties; seats based on vote percentage.

Clarity of Responsibility

Accountability for policy decisions and governance outcomes.

SMDP

Single-Member District Plurality; winner-takes-all system.

Turnout

Voter participation rates vary by electoral system.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating electoral districts for political advantage.

Ranked Choice Voting

Voters rank candidates; lowest eliminated until winner.

Contention

Social movements representing collective goals outside institutions.

Social Revolutions

Transformative events altering social organization fundamentally.

Political Revolutions

Changes in political institutions or regimes.

Civil Wars

Enduring, organized conflict where armed actors contest the power of the state, aiming for significant political or social change (bigger, greater mobilization)

Insurgencies

Armed groups contesting state power through irregular tactics.

Terrorism

Violence by non-state actors for political objectives.

Everyday Resistance

Informal, continuous forms of resistance against authority.

Relative Deprivation

Feeling disadvantaged compared to a reference group.

Resource Mobilization

Organizing resources to address grievances politically.

Opportunity Theories

Contentious politics arise from structural political openings.

Rational Choice

Contentious politics happens because individuals decide whether to join based on weighing the costs and benefits

Preference Falsification

Public behavior differs from private feelings.

Triggering Events

Sudden changes prompting collective action on grievances.

Snowballing

Small actions inspire larger movements over time.

Mancur Olson's Logic

Collective action often fails due to individual costs.

Public goods

Resources available to all, regardless of contribution.

Free riding

Benefiting from resources without contributing.

GDP per capita

Economic output divided by population size.

Life expectancy

Average lifespan of individuals in a population.

Poverty rates

Percentage of population living below the poverty line.

Literacy rates

Proportion of people who can read and write.

Infant mortality rates

Number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births.

Capabilities approach

Focus on removing barriers to human flourishing.

Human Development Index (HDI)

Composite measure of income, education, and life expectancy.

Markets

Individual decisions of free and independent (and greedy!) agents will distribute resources efficiently

States

Government intervention to promote economic development.

State-led development

Government initiatives to foster economic growth.

Property rights

Legal rights to own and use property.

Independent judiciaries

Courts that operate free from government influence.

Rule of law

Legal principle that law applies equally to all.

Economic growth

Increase in the production of goods and services.

Industrialization

Transition from agrarian to industrial economy.

Dependency theory

Critique of developed countries' influence on growth.

Social outcomes measures

Indicators assessing societal well-being and development.

Development obstacles

Factors hindering individuals from achieving potential.

Democracy

Decision-making system that can slow development.

Autocrats

Leaders prioritizing long-term growth for survival.

Cultural theories of development

Values and norms shape economic and political outcomes.

Social norms

Influence development through trust and innovation.

Civil society

Associations like religious attendance, community activities, labor unions, and clubs that foster collaboration and cooperation

Social capital

High trust levels improve democracy and wealth.

Protestant Ethic

Highlights the shift in values toward working for gain, which contributed to the rise of capitalism in Northern Europe

Asian Values Thesis

Subordination of individual needs for societal benefit.

Welfare states

State commitment to maintain population's well-being.

Robin Hood function

Redistribution from wealthy to those in need.

Piggy Bank function

Allows citizens to insure themselves against social hardship (unemployment) and spread income more securely over their lifetime, mostly through pensions

Cash Benefits

Direct financial support like unemployment insurance.

Benefits in Kind

Free services such as health and education.

Economic changes

Urbanization and nuclear family structure shifts.

Actors and Mobilization

Labor unions and political parties drive welfare systems.

Policy Diffusion

Learning from other countries' welfare models.

Liberal welfare model

Low social transfers with market presence.

Social democratic model

More active state intervention to maintain population’s well-being, providing concrete benefits through strong institutions, like in cases where governments protect economies and channel resources (ex: South Korea, Japan)

Alesina and Glaeser

Explain that welfare states differ because of electoral systems. Majoritarian (winner take-all)  vs. proportional, institutions, and racial diversity. Not based on incomes or social inequality

Majoritarian systems

Winner-takes-all electoral approach affecting welfare.

Proportional systems

Electoral approach distributing power more evenly.