If you can answer all of these questions thoroughly then you are prepared for the
exam. Remember, there is some information available only in lecture that will not
be referenced in the study guide. That material may be on the exam as well.
POLS 1101 Study Guide: Chapter 1
1. What is politics?
Your text
Politics is the process through which here 1 and groups reach agreement on a
individuals
course of common, or collective action—even if they disagree on the intended
goals of that action
2. Why are bargaining and compromise important to politics?
Because a group must reach a collective decision
3. What are preferences?
Preferences are individual choices, reflecting economic situation, religious values,
ethnic identity or other valued interests
4. What are institutions?
Institutions are organizations that manage potential conflicts between political
rivals, help them to find mutually acceptable solutions, and makes and enforces
the society’s collective agreements.
5. What is a constitution?
A constitution is a set of rules and procedures these institutions must follow to
reach and enforce collective agreements
6. What is a government? Why are they important?
A government consists of a constitution and the legally prescribed process for
making and enforcing collective agreements.
7. What is authority? How is it different from power?
Authority is the acknowledged right to make a particular decision. Power refers to
the officeholders actual influence with other officeholders.
8. Why have institutional reform and how does it generally occur?
Institution reforms can be made to make the institutions perform more efficiently,
or to enable them to accomplish new goals. Reform usually occurs very slowly
and minimally.
9. What is a collective action problem?
The efforts of a group to reach and implement decisions
10. Why are collective action problems difficult to overcome? Think of a specific
example.
Collective action problems are difficult to overcome because of difficulties in
coordination and the prisoners dilemma
EXAMPLE:
11. What is coordination?
Coordination is when the members of a group must decide individually what they
want, what they are prepared to contribute to the collective enterprise, and how to
coordinate their efforts with those of others.
12. What is the prisoner’s dilemma?
This study source was downloaded by 100000842722785 from CourseHero.com on 10-09-2022 00:45:49 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/7406280/POLS-1101-chapter-1/
exam. Remember, there is some information available only in lecture that will not
be referenced in the study guide. That material may be on the exam as well.
POLS 1101 Study Guide: Chapter 1
1. What is politics?
Your text
Politics is the process through which here 1 and groups reach agreement on a
individuals
course of common, or collective action—even if they disagree on the intended
goals of that action
2. Why are bargaining and compromise important to politics?
Because a group must reach a collective decision
3. What are preferences?
Preferences are individual choices, reflecting economic situation, religious values,
ethnic identity or other valued interests
4. What are institutions?
Institutions are organizations that manage potential conflicts between political
rivals, help them to find mutually acceptable solutions, and makes and enforces
the society’s collective agreements.
5. What is a constitution?
A constitution is a set of rules and procedures these institutions must follow to
reach and enforce collective agreements
6. What is a government? Why are they important?
A government consists of a constitution and the legally prescribed process for
making and enforcing collective agreements.
7. What is authority? How is it different from power?
Authority is the acknowledged right to make a particular decision. Power refers to
the officeholders actual influence with other officeholders.
8. Why have institutional reform and how does it generally occur?
Institution reforms can be made to make the institutions perform more efficiently,
or to enable them to accomplish new goals. Reform usually occurs very slowly
and minimally.
9. What is a collective action problem?
The efforts of a group to reach and implement decisions
10. Why are collective action problems difficult to overcome? Think of a specific
example.
Collective action problems are difficult to overcome because of difficulties in
coordination and the prisoners dilemma
EXAMPLE:
11. What is coordination?
Coordination is when the members of a group must decide individually what they
want, what they are prepared to contribute to the collective enterprise, and how to
coordinate their efforts with those of others.
12. What is the prisoner’s dilemma?
This study source was downloaded by 100000842722785 from CourseHero.com on 10-09-2022 00:45:49 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/7406280/POLS-1101-chapter-1/
