PSCI 1100 exam with complete solutions
authority - ANSWER-the acknowledged right to make a particular decision
bargaining - ANSWER-seeking an agreement to a conflict through direct negotiation
between parties
bicameralism - ANSWER-a legislature comprised of two chambers with each holding a
veto over the other
cabinet - ANSWER-a team of executives elected by the legislature
coalition - ANSWER-a group of individuals with a common interest on which every
political party depends
collective action - ANSWER-action that takes place in groups and diverges from the
social norms of the situation
collective goods - ANSWER-goods that are collectively produced and freely available
for anyone's consumption
compromise - ANSWER-Settlement in which each side concedes some of its
preferences in order to secure others.
conformity costs - ANSWER-the difference between what any one party prefers and
what the collective body requires
constitution - 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
coordination - ANSWER-ability to work together
direct democracy - ANSWER-a form of democracy in which the people vote firsthand
,focal point - ANSWER-some prominent cue that helps individuals recognize the
preferences of others with whom they want to cooperate
free-rider problem - ANSWER-citizens can reap the benefits of something without
actually joining, participating in, or contributing money to such groups
government - ANSWER-the governing body of a nation, state, or community
initiative - ANSWER-process that permits voters to put legislative measures directly on
the ballot
institution - ANSWER-consist of offices that confer on their occupants specific authority
and responsibilities
institutional design - ANSWER-the construction of political institutions and processes for
managing conflicts and reaching collective agreements between competing interests
office - ANSWER-a duty or function assigned to someone
parliamentary government - ANSWER-a form of government in which the executive
branch is made up of the prime minister, or premier, and that official's cabinet
politicians - ANSWER-a person who is professionally involved in politics, especially as a
holder of or a candidate for an elected office
politics - ANSWER-the process through which individuals and groups reach agreement
on a course of common, or collective, action - even as they disagree on the intended
goals of that action
power - ANSWER-a politician's actual influence over others whose cooperation she
needs in order to achieve her political goals
preferences - ANSWER-the outcomes or experiences people want or believe they need
prisoner's dilemma - ANSWER-a variety of settings in which individuals find themselves
personally better off by pursuing their private interests and undermining the collective
effort event when they want to succeed
private goods - ANSWER-things people buy and consume themselves in a marketplace
that supplies these goods according to the demand for them
,privatize - ANSWER-converting a good from a collective good to a private good
public goods - ANSWER-everyone participates in supplying them and anyone can freely
consume them
referendum - ANSWER-a legislative act is referred for final approval to a popular vote
by the electorate
regulation - ANSWER-setting up rules limiting access to the common resource and
monitoring and penalizing those who violate them
representative government - ANSWER-system of government in which public policies
are made by officials selected by the voters and held accountable in periodic elections
republic - ANSWER-a form of government in which citizens choose their leaders by
voting
separation of powers - ANSWER-constitutional division of powers among the legislative,
executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive
applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law
tragedy of the commons - ANSWER-individuals' costless consumption of a public good
that results in its ruination
transaction costs - ANSWER-time, effort, and resources required to make collective
decisions
tyranny - ANSWER-cruel and oppressive government or rule
agency loss - ANSWER-The discrepancy between what citizens ideally would like their
agents to do and how the agents actually behave
agenda control - ANSWER-authority to place proposals before others for their decision,
as well as preventing proposals from being considered
agent - ANSWER-those who exercise authority of behalf of principals
antifederalists - ANSWER-Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong
central government, generally --> for states' rights
, articles of confederation - ANSWER-1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788
(weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)
bicameral legislature - ANSWER-a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts
bill of rights - ANSWER-The first ten amendments to the Constitution
checks and balances - ANSWER-A system that allows each branch of government to
limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
command - ANSWER-authority to dictate others' actions
commerce clause - ANSWER-The clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause
1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines
or affect more than one state or other nations.
confederation - ANSWER-highly decentralized system in which the national government
derives limited authority from the states rather than directly from citizens
declaration of independence - ANSWER-the document recording the proclamation of
the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the
colonies from Great Britain
delegation - ANSWER-authority to assign an agent responsibility to act on your behalf
electoral college - ANSWER-mixes state, congressional, and popular participation in the
election process --> each state is awarded as many electors as it has memebers of the
house and senate
faction - ANSWER-a small, organized, dissenting group within a larger one, especially
in politics.
fast-track authority - ANSWER-A procedure whereby trade deals negotiated by the
President are considered within Congress without amendment and within a fixed period
of time
federalists - ANSWER-supporters of the Constitution and nationalism
great compromise - ANSWER-Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which
states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and
representation based on population in the other house
authority - ANSWER-the acknowledged right to make a particular decision
bargaining - ANSWER-seeking an agreement to a conflict through direct negotiation
between parties
bicameralism - ANSWER-a legislature comprised of two chambers with each holding a
veto over the other
cabinet - ANSWER-a team of executives elected by the legislature
coalition - ANSWER-a group of individuals with a common interest on which every
political party depends
collective action - ANSWER-action that takes place in groups and diverges from the
social norms of the situation
collective goods - ANSWER-goods that are collectively produced and freely available
for anyone's consumption
compromise - ANSWER-Settlement in which each side concedes some of its
preferences in order to secure others.
conformity costs - ANSWER-the difference between what any one party prefers and
what the collective body requires
constitution - 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
coordination - ANSWER-ability to work together
direct democracy - ANSWER-a form of democracy in which the people vote firsthand
,focal point - ANSWER-some prominent cue that helps individuals recognize the
preferences of others with whom they want to cooperate
free-rider problem - ANSWER-citizens can reap the benefits of something without
actually joining, participating in, or contributing money to such groups
government - ANSWER-the governing body of a nation, state, or community
initiative - ANSWER-process that permits voters to put legislative measures directly on
the ballot
institution - ANSWER-consist of offices that confer on their occupants specific authority
and responsibilities
institutional design - ANSWER-the construction of political institutions and processes for
managing conflicts and reaching collective agreements between competing interests
office - ANSWER-a duty or function assigned to someone
parliamentary government - ANSWER-a form of government in which the executive
branch is made up of the prime minister, or premier, and that official's cabinet
politicians - ANSWER-a person who is professionally involved in politics, especially as a
holder of or a candidate for an elected office
politics - ANSWER-the process through which individuals and groups reach agreement
on a course of common, or collective, action - even as they disagree on the intended
goals of that action
power - ANSWER-a politician's actual influence over others whose cooperation she
needs in order to achieve her political goals
preferences - ANSWER-the outcomes or experiences people want or believe they need
prisoner's dilemma - ANSWER-a variety of settings in which individuals find themselves
personally better off by pursuing their private interests and undermining the collective
effort event when they want to succeed
private goods - ANSWER-things people buy and consume themselves in a marketplace
that supplies these goods according to the demand for them
,privatize - ANSWER-converting a good from a collective good to a private good
public goods - ANSWER-everyone participates in supplying them and anyone can freely
consume them
referendum - ANSWER-a legislative act is referred for final approval to a popular vote
by the electorate
regulation - ANSWER-setting up rules limiting access to the common resource and
monitoring and penalizing those who violate them
representative government - ANSWER-system of government in which public policies
are made by officials selected by the voters and held accountable in periodic elections
republic - ANSWER-a form of government in which citizens choose their leaders by
voting
separation of powers - ANSWER-constitutional division of powers among the legislative,
executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive
applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law
tragedy of the commons - ANSWER-individuals' costless consumption of a public good
that results in its ruination
transaction costs - ANSWER-time, effort, and resources required to make collective
decisions
tyranny - ANSWER-cruel and oppressive government or rule
agency loss - ANSWER-The discrepancy between what citizens ideally would like their
agents to do and how the agents actually behave
agenda control - ANSWER-authority to place proposals before others for their decision,
as well as preventing proposals from being considered
agent - ANSWER-those who exercise authority of behalf of principals
antifederalists - ANSWER-Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong
central government, generally --> for states' rights
, articles of confederation - ANSWER-1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788
(weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)
bicameral legislature - ANSWER-a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts
bill of rights - ANSWER-The first ten amendments to the Constitution
checks and balances - ANSWER-A system that allows each branch of government to
limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
command - ANSWER-authority to dictate others' actions
commerce clause - ANSWER-The clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause
1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines
or affect more than one state or other nations.
confederation - ANSWER-highly decentralized system in which the national government
derives limited authority from the states rather than directly from citizens
declaration of independence - ANSWER-the document recording the proclamation of
the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the
colonies from Great Britain
delegation - ANSWER-authority to assign an agent responsibility to act on your behalf
electoral college - ANSWER-mixes state, congressional, and popular participation in the
election process --> each state is awarded as many electors as it has memebers of the
house and senate
faction - ANSWER-a small, organized, dissenting group within a larger one, especially
in politics.
fast-track authority - ANSWER-A procedure whereby trade deals negotiated by the
President are considered within Congress without amendment and within a fixed period
of time
federalists - ANSWER-supporters of the Constitution and nationalism
great compromise - ANSWER-Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which
states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and
representation based on population in the other house
