Course Description
Applies the basic models of social choice theory and game theory to the study of political institutions. Models of legislative, executive, and judicial structures are covered. Other institutions studied may include groups, parties, and the media.
Athena Title
Social Choice and Institutions
Prerequisite
POLS 1101 or POLS 1105H or POLS 1101E
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will learn to apply formal models to their analysis of legislative, executive, judicial, and bureaucratic institutions. Skills developed include deductive reasoning and basic mathematical modeling. Those skills enhance students' abilities to craft testable hypotheses.
Topical Outline
Gibbard and Arrow's Theorems Black's Median Voter Theorem (BMVT) BMVT applied to Legislative Bodies - Committee Structures - Strategic Voting Executive-Legislative Relations - e.g., Veto Bargaining Courts - Strategic v. Legal Rationales for Judicial Behaviors Court-Legislative Relations Bureaucracies Bureaucratic-Congressional Relations Bureaucratic-Congressional-Court Relations Other Institutions - Groups, Parties, Media Policy Implications drawn from Formal Models of Institutions
Syllabus