GOVT-210 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Group Theory, Elite Theory, Wall Street Reform
13 May 2020
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Document Summary
Power concentrated in diff sets of elites which drive policy decisions. Foreign policy, gun policy, defense energy, health care. Power is dispersed among various interest groups fighting for their own. Gun rights groups v gun control groups. Policy outcome often determined by institutional rules and processes. Senate - membership favors rural interests bc most (45 of 50 states) have strong rural areas- farm subsidies, rural broadband subsidies. Senate- rules require 60 votes to pass most bills- compromise required. House of reps- power accumulated through seniority- members representing safer districts become committee chairs- policies tend to be more ideological/less centrist. Institutionally, the senate moves legislature toward more centrist ideology while the house moves towards more extreme ideology. Behavior of public officials and voters determined by rational self interest. Public officials guided by political self interest. Desire to get reelected or impact a particular issue. Voters- citizens guided by economic self interest. Eg. lower taxes will lead to greater spending/investment or higher.
