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Institutional Analysis. Lecture 2: Rules of the Game Sharyn O’Halloran . Preferences (interests). Government. Policies (legal constraints on economic or social activity). electoral process. governmental process. Basic Approach. Preferences In -- Policies Out. Issues emerge,
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Institutional Analysis Lecture 2: Rules of the Game Sharyn O’Halloran
Preferences (interests) Government Policies (legal constraints on economic or social activity) electoral process governmental process Basic Approach • Preferences In -- Policies Out • Issues emerge, • Interests (preferences) are formed, and • Information is transmitted to the • Institutions of government, where policy may or may not change.
Where do institutions come from? • Institutions are the result of political process. • Choice is political • Made by individuals with preferences over policy. • As circumstances change, so too may the institutions of decision making. • Institutions set the rules • They define the key actors, their interests, and the rules by which they interact in the governmental process. • Keep in mind as we review the basics of the US Constitution.
Madison’s Dilemma • Government must be responsive to the will of the people. • Just fought for independence • Aware of the consequences of unchecked authority • Government had to be effective • The constitution was written in response to the failures of the Article of Confederation. • Articles extremely limited, the central government could not even tax. • Government had to be able to get things done. • Dilemma (inherent conflict) • Must enable the government to control the govern (i.e., tax) and then oblige the government to control itself.
Constitutional Solution • Main Theme • Pit interest against interest • Divide and arrange the offices so that each check the other. • How accomplished? • Divide government into different branches • Render them by different modes of election • Given them different abilities • Results • The branches will never coalesce; no one branch or individual can dominate the political process. • Policy change difficult and incremental
Checks & Balances • Types • Presidential veto • Congressional override • Judicial review • How does differing constituencies provide check? • Where do the interests of each branch come from? • Representatives—districts, 2 years • Senators—states, 6 years • President—national, 4 years
The Federalist Papers • Purpose • Propaganda to get white male landowners to sign on to the new government. • Concern was that the un-landed class would appropriate property. • What form of government do we have? • Democracy? • In what way are US institutions un-democratic?
Federalist 10 • Question? • How was a republican government, based on the election of a few to represent many, prevent tyranny. • Answer • Tyranny can be controlled by competing interests • People have different interests • Larger electorates (or number of representatives) have more competing interests • Therefore, to preserve individual rights and secure the public good, need large number of competing interests. • Case for strong union? • Union bigger and therefore has more competing interests than a state or locality.
Federalist 51 • Question? • How to prevent one branch of government from dominating others? • Answer • To ensure liberty, need to ensure separate and distinct exercise of the different powers of government. • Premise: Men are self-interested • Intermediate steps: • Men will abuse power • Setting interest against interest • Different modes of elections gives different interest • Conclusion: • To ensure liberty need separation of powers based on different modes of election to check each other’s abuse of power.
