POSC 225 Test 1 (Sulfaro)
What are some of the different definitions of politics discussed in class and in
the text? - correct answer ✔Politics: the process by which individuals and
groups reach agreement on a common course of action even as they continue
to disagree on the goals that action is intended to achieve
What is the difference between the public sphere and the private sphere? Can
you
think of examples of each? - correct answer ✔- Public: legit gov't interest
(societal consensus, affects well being) ex. parks
- Private: no legit gov't interest (what we are doing in our own homes) ex.
clothes, home, etc
What is a collective good? What are its properties? Can you think of examples
of a
collective good, and explain why they fit the criteria for being a collective
good? - correct answer ✔social benefit - end product is something we all
enjoy
a. not divisible and not excludable (if it's being provided, can't be provide to
some people without giving it to others)
b. The benefit is desired by the public
c. Need another actor to provide this - we can't get it on our own
d. Coercion might be required because of scope/ large numbers of people are
necessary
e. Incentive to be a free rider (when you're enjoying the benefits of a collective
good without incurring the cost
ex. clean air and water
,What is the difference between a collective good and a private good/ private
benefit? - correct answer ✔Collective good is something the gov't provides
that is open for everyone to enjoy, a private good is not something you can
claim property rights for
Can you explain the free rider problem and the tragedy of the commons?
Could you
provide examples of these, or rule out cases that did not fit? - correct answer
✔The free rider problem is when people take advantage of a collective good,
without incurring the costs (i.e. waiting to sign up for health care until they got
sick to not incur the extra tax)
Tragedy of the commons - misuse of a common good that leads to a bad
result - a form of free riding (i.e. Chesapeake Blue Crabs, people have
unlimited access, so there are only a few and they cost a lot or it costs a lot to
produce high quality info on the internet so people exploit this and post cheap,
unreliable information)
What is the difference between bargaining and compromise? - correct answer
✔-Bargaining: a form of negotiation in which two or more parties who disagree
propose exchanges and concessions to find a course of acceptable collective
action
-Compromise: settlement in which each side concedes some of its
preferences in order to secure others
What do political scientists (and economists) mean by a preference? How
does this differ from a person's self-interest? In what ways might it overlap
their self-interest? What does Madison say about preferences in his writings?
- correct answer ✔Preference is chosen from a set of choices; just because
you prefer to be democrat doesn't mean all your self interests match that, but
some interests can fall into preference
What is the difference between power and authority? - correct answer ✔1)
Power- the ability to do something
, 2) Authority- legitimate right to exercise power
Can you identify Max Weber's three sources of authority, and provide an
example of
each one? Could you rule out examples that did not fit a particular type of
authority, if
you were offered a list of examples? - correct answer ✔1.
Traditional/religious - the gov't has the right to rule because it is granted by
God/divinity (i.e. monarchy)
2. Charismatic leader - personal greatness of the individual
3. Rational/Legal - belief that procedures used to govern are just and proper;
that they derive from law and policies and regulations that have been justly
applied
How does Harrington explain the slice of cake example as a way of
understanding the
problem of dealing with fairness and self-interest and the need for a set of
consensual
institutions? If I were to provide you with current examples of political actions
and ask
you to identify which best fit the slice of cake rule, or which seemed to violate
it, could
you do this? - correct answer ✔you could reach compromise by one person
cutting the cake and the other choosing so they want the gov't to be as equal
as possible - both people are able to pursue self interest to get the largest
slice of cake as well as compromise with
What is the purpose of a constitution? - correct answer ✔Establishes its
governing institutions and the set of rules and procedures these institutions
must and must not follow to reach and enforce collective agreements
What are some of the different definitions of politics discussed in class and in
the text? - correct answer ✔Politics: the process by which individuals and
groups reach agreement on a common course of action even as they continue
to disagree on the goals that action is intended to achieve
What is the difference between the public sphere and the private sphere? Can
you
think of examples of each? - correct answer ✔- Public: legit gov't interest
(societal consensus, affects well being) ex. parks
- Private: no legit gov't interest (what we are doing in our own homes) ex.
clothes, home, etc
What is a collective good? What are its properties? Can you think of examples
of a
collective good, and explain why they fit the criteria for being a collective
good? - correct answer ✔social benefit - end product is something we all
enjoy
a. not divisible and not excludable (if it's being provided, can't be provide to
some people without giving it to others)
b. The benefit is desired by the public
c. Need another actor to provide this - we can't get it on our own
d. Coercion might be required because of scope/ large numbers of people are
necessary
e. Incentive to be a free rider (when you're enjoying the benefits of a collective
good without incurring the cost
ex. clean air and water
,What is the difference between a collective good and a private good/ private
benefit? - correct answer ✔Collective good is something the gov't provides
that is open for everyone to enjoy, a private good is not something you can
claim property rights for
Can you explain the free rider problem and the tragedy of the commons?
Could you
provide examples of these, or rule out cases that did not fit? - correct answer
✔The free rider problem is when people take advantage of a collective good,
without incurring the costs (i.e. waiting to sign up for health care until they got
sick to not incur the extra tax)
Tragedy of the commons - misuse of a common good that leads to a bad
result - a form of free riding (i.e. Chesapeake Blue Crabs, people have
unlimited access, so there are only a few and they cost a lot or it costs a lot to
produce high quality info on the internet so people exploit this and post cheap,
unreliable information)
What is the difference between bargaining and compromise? - correct answer
✔-Bargaining: a form of negotiation in which two or more parties who disagree
propose exchanges and concessions to find a course of acceptable collective
action
-Compromise: settlement in which each side concedes some of its
preferences in order to secure others
What do political scientists (and economists) mean by a preference? How
does this differ from a person's self-interest? In what ways might it overlap
their self-interest? What does Madison say about preferences in his writings?
- correct answer ✔Preference is chosen from a set of choices; just because
you prefer to be democrat doesn't mean all your self interests match that, but
some interests can fall into preference
What is the difference between power and authority? - correct answer ✔1)
Power- the ability to do something
, 2) Authority- legitimate right to exercise power
Can you identify Max Weber's three sources of authority, and provide an
example of
each one? Could you rule out examples that did not fit a particular type of
authority, if
you were offered a list of examples? - correct answer ✔1.
Traditional/religious - the gov't has the right to rule because it is granted by
God/divinity (i.e. monarchy)
2. Charismatic leader - personal greatness of the individual
3. Rational/Legal - belief that procedures used to govern are just and proper;
that they derive from law and policies and regulations that have been justly
applied
How does Harrington explain the slice of cake example as a way of
understanding the
problem of dealing with fairness and self-interest and the need for a set of
consensual
institutions? If I were to provide you with current examples of political actions
and ask
you to identify which best fit the slice of cake rule, or which seemed to violate
it, could
you do this? - correct answer ✔you could reach compromise by one person
cutting the cake and the other choosing so they want the gov't to be as equal
as possible - both people are able to pursue self interest to get the largest
slice of cake as well as compromise with
What is the purpose of a constitution? - correct answer ✔Establishes its
governing institutions and the set of rules and procedures these institutions
must and must not follow to reach and enforce collective agreements
