PSCI 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Natural And Legal Rights, First Continental Congress, Human Nature
7 Sep 2016
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Instrumental behavior: political scientists think about political choices through the idea of instrumental/rational behavior. Choices aimed at decision that yields greatest happiness. However, external limits present: choices constrained by institutions/rules. Institutions/rules: the procedures that determine who can participate in a choice, when they can do so, and how they may be involved. Governments are institutions that exist in order to prevent the state of nature, protecting individual interests. Recall that governments are about the distribution of power. Formed as a result of political processes. Create distribution fo power that influences who wins and loses: applying this to u. s. Popular control of government via republican democracy. Legitimacy comes from consent of the governed (locke) Purpose is to preserve life, liberty, and property. Gov. must channel self interest and handle majority. Product of the same concerns/compromises that would lead to the constitution: issues. January 1776: first publication of thomas paine"s common. November 15, 1777: articles of confederation adopted by.
