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Chapter 1: Understanding American Politics

Chapter 1: Understanding American Politics. Instructor: Jonathan Powell January 19,2012. Don’t forget: You can copy-paste this slide into other presentations, and move or resize the poll. What is Politics?. The process that determines what government does. What is Politics?.

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Chapter 1: Understanding American Politics

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  1. Chapter 1: Understanding American Politics Instructor: Jonathan Powell January 19,2012

  2. Don’t forget: You can copy-paste this slide into other presentations, and move or resize the poll.

  3. What is Politics? • The process that determines what government does

  4. What is Politics? • The process that determines what government does • What is GOVERNMENT? • The system for implementing decisions made through the political process

  5. Why do we need it?

  6. Why do we need it? • “If men were angels, no government would be necessary” • Tragedy of the Commons

  7. Why do we need it? • “If men were angels, no government would be necessary” • Tragedy of the Commons • Need for regulation

  8. Who gets what?

  9. Who gets what?

  10. Who gets what?

  11. …and how? • How does “nonsensical” legislation get passed? • “Bridge to Nowhere”

  12. …and how? • How does “nonsensical” legislation get passed? • “Bridge to Nowhere” • Pork-Barrel Spending – • Earmarks –

  13. …and how? • How does “nonsensical” legislation get passed? • “Bridge to Nowhere” • Pork-Barrel Spending – created with the aim of helping local representatives win re-election • Earmarks –

  14. …and how? • How does “nonsensical” legislation get passed? • “Bridge to Nowhere” • Pork-Barrel Spending – created with the aim of helping local representatives win re-election • Earmarks – federally-funded local projects attached to bills passed through Congress

  15. We have… • Government • Politics • What is Political Science?

  16. Not a political scientist…

  17. Not a political scientist…

  18. Not a political scientist…

  19. Closer, but still not a political scientist…

  20. Political Science • Using scientific principles to study political phenomena • It is not commentary, educated or otherwise • It is not being an “expert” on a specific area of interest • It is more about answering why than what, and about how we look at the subject

  21. Why does “bad” legislation get passed? • Observation leads to a research question

  22. Why does “bad” legislation get passed? • Observation leads to a research question • Formulate a theory that explains what you observe

  23. Why does “bad” legislation get passed? • Observation leads to a research question • Formulate a theory that explains what you observe • Formulate testable implications of the theory

  24. Why does “bad” legislation get passed? • Observation leads to a research question • Formulate a theory that explains what you observe • Formulate testable implications of the theory • Test your theory

  25. Why bad spending? • How can we “scientifically” study this?

  26. Challenge to change… • Why don’t voters ‘do something?’ • Public Good • Collective Action Problem • Free Rider

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