Chapter 1

A prominent cue that helps individuals recognize the preferences of others with whom they want to cooperate is called a (an) ideal point. status quo ante. focal point. inversion point.

focal point.

The free-rider problem is often found in small groups. medium-sized groups. large groups. all groups.

large groups.

Hobbes's argument in Leviathan can be restated as government can only be held in check through regular elections. patrilineal succession could never result in a legitimate monarch. republicanism is the most efficient organization mechanism for government. monarchs offer a cost-effective means to collective action.

monarchs offer a cost-effective means to collective action.

The veto is similar to command authority because it is unilateral. consensual. not an institutional tool. cooperative.

unilateral.

Political institutions include which of the following? A set of rules prescribing a political process for reaching and enforcing collective agreements The places where the former Yugoslav government put dissidents Training centers for party operatives and campaign workers The official buildings where government employees work

A set of rules prescribing a political process for reaching and enforcing collective agreements

The discrepancy between what principals ideally desire and what agents actually do is called which of the following? Delegation The tragedy of the commons Agency loss Leviathan

Agency loss

The difference between authority and power is which of the following? Authority is the right to make a particular decision and power is the actual influence the institution has over that action. Authority is seized and power is given. There is no difference; they are perfectly interchangeable. Power describes the formal parameters of influence while authority describes the informal parameters of influence.

Authority is the right to make a particular decision and power is the actual influence the institution has over that action.

Command authority cuts through both coordination and prisoner's dilemma problems by doing which of the following? By creating low conformity costs that will be easily accepted By creating multiple decision makers, thus forcing consensus By compiling an aggregation of the preferences of others By conferring the authority to impose a solution regardless of the preference of others

By conferring the authority to impose a solution regardless of the preference of others

Which barrier to collective action is generally considered the easiest to overcome? Prisoner's dilemma Free riding Coordination Agency loss

Coordination

Politics occurs whenever a solution to a problem requires cooperation even when that cooperation is which of the following? Achieved through force alone Costly or difficult Irrelevant to the success of the course of action Already what everyone agrees on

Costly or difficult

Assigning authority to make and implement decisions to a smaller number of persons who are expected to act on behalf of the larger group's interest is an example of which of the following? A conformity cost An example of an institution A prisoner's dilemma Delegation

Delegation

Why do citizens often look to government to provide public goods? Government has coercive authority to prevent free riding and the necessary resources to undertake expensive projects. Only the government can be trusted not to exploit citizens. Government charges fair prices and the coercive authority to prevent the tragedy of the commons. Government regulations are sensible and the government has decided to privatize all but a few essential functions to promote greater efficiency.

Government has coercive authority to prevent free riding and the necessary resources to undertake expensive projects.

Constitutions, charters, and bylaws all serve which of the following purposes? Inhibiting the whims of the majority Resolving every conceivable conflict in an organization Guiding the organization's members in making essentially political decisions Avoiding any disputes that could ever arise in any political decision-making process

Guiding the organization's members in making essentially political decisions

A parliamentary system is different from a presidential system primarily for which of the following reasons? In a parliamentary system, the executive and legislative branches are separate. In a presidential system, the executive and legislative branches are separate. There is no difference; they are essentially the same. In a parliamentary system, there must be a monarch.

In a presidential system, the executive and legislative branches are separate.

An increase in the number of veto holders does which of the following? Lowers transaction costs Makes political systems like the United States less conservative Increases transaction costs Eliminates judicial review

Increases transaction costs

To say we regard preferences as "givens" means which of the following? Individuals and groups know what they want. Those who create institutions impose or give preferences to others. Individuals and groups always disclose their preferences. Preferences in society are easily reconciled.

Individuals and groups know what they want.

Which of the following is true about direct democracy, where citizens participate directly in collective decision making? It typically occurs in large communities and organizations. It typically is reserved for small communities and organizations. It is a dangerous idea that has always been rejected by communities and organizations. It relies heavily on delegation and representation.

It typically is reserved for small communities and organizations.

Government institutions consist of which of the following? Only well-known popular icons The mechanisms through which revolutions are always planned The rules of government that exist apart from the roles of government Offices that confer on their occupants specific authority and responsibilities

Offices that confer on their occupants specific authority and responsibilities

Which of the following is an example of collective action? A king imposing a tax on his subjects A person choosing to purchase a new cellphone Organized crime families jockey over turf for illegal activity A member of Congress writing a letter to a constituent

Organized crime families jockey over turf for illegal activity

The U.S. Constitution was intended to do which of the following? Permanently advantage some economic interests over others Rarely impact the actual decisions made by government Resolve a contested election that occurred under the Articles of Confederation Reassure diverse interests that they would be better off under the new system

Reassure diverse interests that they would be better off under the new system

Modern democracies blend delegation and majority rule together into what is known as which of the following? A monarchical government A fiefdom Representative government Divided government

Representative government

Why is the prisoner's dilemma a critical part of American politics? Uncertainty and incomplete information prevent collective action even when the majority agrees on a policy. Each side recognizes they will be better off acting alone because no one can be trusted to cooperate. It ensures that politicans go to jail if they lie to voters during political campaigns. Successful exchanges occur when each side recognizes they will be better off with a collective outcome rather than acting alone.

Successful exchanges occur when each side recognizes they will be better off with a collective outcome rather than acting alone.

"Collective action" refers to which of the following? The efforts of a group to reach and implement agreements Action by an individual on behalf of the collective, usually without the collective's permission The decisions made by absolute dictators Whether people participate in their government

The efforts of a group to reach and implement agreements

Which of the following is a good formal definition of politics? A controlled study of the impact of an independent variable on a dependent variable The process through which individuals and groups reach agreement on a course of common action even as they continue to disagree on the goals of the action Any system where the governed make all important decisions regarding governance A two-party system that governs nationally

The process through which individuals and groups reach agreement on a course of common action even as they continue to disagree on the goals of the action

Which of the following best describes the relationship between transaction costs and conformity costs? The relationship is inverse as efforts to reduce transaction costs serve to increase conformity costs. It is a positive relationship as lower transaction costs result in lower conformity costs. It depends on the nature of the political institutions established in a nation's constitution. There is absolutely no relationship between these costs because they address separate concerns.

The relationship is inverse as efforts to reduce transaction costs serve to increase conformity costs.

Which of the following does not explain why institutions are stable and resistant to change? The specific authority of each institution prevents any changes from occurring. Those seeking change often find it hard to agree on an alternative. They contribute a fundamental continuity and orderliness to collective action. People affected by institutions make plans on the assumption that current arrangements will remain.

The specific authority of each institution prevents any changes from occurring.

What are transaction costs? The costs only associated with buying and selling of goods The costs only associated with the enactment of laws The time, effort, and resources required to make collective decisions The money necessary to inhibit specific types of actions

The time, effort, and resources required to make collective decisions

The collapse of the cod fishing industry off the coast of New England is a real-life analogy of which of the following? The tragedy of the commons The ends justifying the means Representative government Good policy poorly implemented

The tragedy of the commons

Which of the following are two features of public goods? Their costs are borne collectively and no one can be excluded from their benefits. They are finite and paid for by individuals. They are provided according to the demands of the market and they are excludable. They waste taxpayers' money and provide goods no one wants.

Their costs are borne collectively and no one can be excluded from their benefits.

Which of the following is a formal definition of a government? Those institutions created by a constitution and the legally prescribed process for making and enforcing collective agreements Only those systems that elect a prime minister and parliament Only those systems that elect a president and congress Any institution that relies on force to implement its decisions

Those institutions created by a constitution and the legally prescribed process for making and enforcing collective agreements

A "prisoner's dilemma" arises in which of the following instances? When a convict pleads guilty to a crime he or she did not commit. Whenever individuals who ultimately would benefit from cooperating with each other also have a powerful and irresistible incentive to break the agreement and exploit the other side. Whenever there are conflicting provisions in a constitution. When a civilian is the commander in chief of the military.

Whenever individuals who ultimately would benefit from cooperating with each other also have a powerful and irresistible incentive to break the agreement and exploit the other side.

Because of the large size of populations and the complexity of the issues to be resolved, the degree of success populations in nations have in politics depends largely on which of the following? Whether they are capable of engaging in politics on a day-to-day basis Whether they have developed constitutions and governments that work Whether they pay absolutely no attention to their nation's politics Whether they fail to be interested in policy in a meaningful way

Whether they have developed constitutions and governments that work

One of the fundamental problems for government is reconciling preferences because our preferences are always closely linked to self-interest. the preferences most Americans hold are based on religious values. a diversity of preferences is natural among men. there are usually only one or two dominant interests in society.

a diversity of preferences is natural among men.

The problem that arises from the costless consumption by a large number of individuals of a public good that results in its ruination is called a tragedy of the commons. a perfectly elastic supply curve. an imperfect market solution. institutional rigidity.

a tragedy of the commons.

Bargaining and compromise rarely leads to successful political outcomes. is essential for producing successful political outcomes. usually results in disappointment from political actors unable to achieve the ideal policies. generates bad policies that make society worse than if no political action had occurred.

is essential for producing successful political outcomes.

Institutions tend to be completely revamped with each change in power. easy to reform and relatively easy to abolish. stable and resistant to change. subject to public referenda for purposes of approval.

stable and resistant to change.

The free-rider problem describes the costless consumption of public good by a large number of individuals resulting in its destruction. the tendency of individuals to defect from group activity in favor of their own interests. the decision of an individual to withhold his or her contribution from collective group action. the challenges associated with balancing transaction and conformity costs.

the decision of an individual to withhold his or her contribution from collective group action.

The difference between parliamentary systems of government and the system of government contained in the Constitution is parliamentary systems minimize the conformity costs compared with the political system in the United States. the separation of powers contained in the U.S. Constitution imposes higher transaction costs than in parliamentary government. the decision of the legislature is constrained by executive and judicial vetoes. there are no major differences since the leaders are popularly elected in both systems.

the separation of powers contained in the U.S. Constitution imposes higher transaction costs than in parliamentary government.

Without rules and procedures for promoting successful collective action, as participants and preferences multiply government grows more efficient. broadly acceptable collective decisions are made more rapidly. unstructured negotiation rarely yields a collective decision all parties can accept. the institutions of governance become less important.

unstructured negotiation rarely yields a collective decision all parties can accept.

The idea that "social choices breed conflict" is especially true when unitary political actors such as kings or dictators make policy decisions. when voters are ambivalent about policy. when the choices involve issues that affect the political parties' core constituencies. immediately after elections.

when the choices involve issues that affect the political parties' core constituencies.

Following the 2014 midterm elections, President Obama and congressional Republicans promised to work together, but the the experience from 2010 suggests that it will be very easy for the two sides to reach agreements since they agree on the major issues facing the country. gridlock will prevail because President Obama will veto every bill passed in Congress. working together comes with compromises that neither side is particularly excited about. will pass significant policy changes because there is now unified control of the federal government.

working together comes with compromises that neither side is particularly excited about.

Which of the following is true of the constitution of a nation? It is always written. It is divinely inspired and theologically grounded. It creates the governing institutions and the set of rules prescribing the political process these institutions must follow to reach and enforce collective agreements. It creates barriers to collective agreements so as to ensure that the political process does not get captured by special interests.

It creates the governing institutions and the set of rules prescribing the political process these institutions must follow to reach and enforce collective agreements.

Which of the following is example of agenda control? Political parties nominating candidates in a primary The President exercising his veto power Giving the bureaucracy the ability to make regulations Citizens voting in elections

Political parties nominating candidates in a primary

The history of fire protection in America can best be described as which of the following? A governmental responsibility since the founding A natural national monopoly The evolution of a private good to a governmental responsibility A congressional responsibility pursuant to Article I of the Constitution

The evolution of a private good to a governmental responsibility

The fear that a party to a political negotiation may renege on or fail to abide by any agreement may lead to which of the following? A quick and mutually acceptable resolution A clear agreement enforced only through the good faith and trust of the parties War as the preferred alternative A complete capitulation by one side on all issues

War as the preferred alternative

The statement "War is politics by other means" suggests which of the following? War happens when the bargaining of politics fails. War is no different from an election because the outcome is driven by the consent of the governed. Political disputes are like wars because no rules can ever apply to those contests. The ends justify the means.

War happens when the bargaining of politics fails.

The Framers designed a government that maximized conformity costs by limiting transaction costs. limited free riding to allow the national government more authority. by minimizing conformity costs through increased transaction costs such as separation of powers and limited national authority. that took control of the means of production to produce a much stronger national economy that was essential for building an empire.

by minimizing conformity costs through increased transaction costs such as separation of powers and limited national authority.

Coordination problems can be solved by larger groups seeking to solve problems by designating and following a leader. generally decrease as groups get larger because the stakes are lower. represent a trade-off with the prisoner's dilemma. can always be solved in some way by an innovative political actor.

can be solved by larger groups seeking to solve problems by designating and following a leader.

All organizations are governed by rules and procedures that are very difficult to change. that rarely impact the actual decisions made by those organizations. for the resolution of contested elections. for making and enforcing decisions.

for making and enforcing decisions.

Institutional design always balances the interests of all parties involved so each has an interest in maintaining arrangements. is almost always imposed by some political actors seeking to secure their advantages. is a product of politics and some institutions may convey advantages on some interests over others. generates uncertainty so it is almost impossible to design stable and effective institutions.

is a product of politics and some institutions may convey advantages on some interests over others.

A simple majority is defined as one-half. one-half plus one. one-half plus two. more than anyone else.

one-half plus one.

The tragedy of the commons can be solved through transaction costs and privatization. regulation and public goods. conformity costs and free riding. regulation and privatization.

regulation and privatization.

The fight over the extension of slavery into the western territories and the resulting Civil War demonstrates that some issues do not offer mutual gains through cooperation. politics is successful only when there are well-established political parties with a history of trust. the conformity costs were too low so Republicans refused to compromise on the issue of slavery. the lack of a focal point made coordination on the issue nearly impossible.

some issues do not offer mutual gains through cooperation.