PoliSci274March30

PoliSci 274 Professor Scott Gehlbach Lecture 9 2/23//09 Agenda Sophisticated Voting Motivation and definitions The Powell Amendment Board X p Y p Z Y p Z p X Z p X p Y Condocert X and Y---x P y Y and Z--- y P z Z and x--- z P x Outcome Group Preference Not transitive Group choice: there is none No Condorcet Winner Binary voting procedure Outcome in situation below would be X wins round 1, Z wins round 2 Outcome is Z Given this it would be better to misrepresent their vote in first round since in essence a Vote for X is a vote for Z Since individuals one and two both prefer Y to Z they will both vote for Y 1st player will misrepresent their vote to get a preferable outcome of Y over Z Strategic Voting Definition: Situation where individuals are choosing the best outcome given beliefs about what other voters will do Sophisticated Voting Definitions Strategic voting when voting is not simultaneous Voting against ones true preferences at one stage of voting process to obtain a better outcome at the end stage The Powell Amendment Background Congressmen Adam Clayton Powell represents a district in Harlem became chair of education and labor committee Bill in question would have increased funding for schools in 1956 Democrats generally for it, Republicans generally against it Floor Amendments Powell Amendment would have decreased at schools practicing segregation Republicans vote for Powell Amendment because they believe it will split democrats and get southern democrats to vote against the bill altogether Northern Democrats who oppose segregation but also want schools to get funded would then be better off to forget their opposition against segregation and vote against the Powell Amendment Preferences Choices: S=Status Quo B=Plain Bill A=Amended Bill Southern Democrats B p S p A Northern Republicans S p B p A some maybe S p A p B Northern Democrats A p B p S Members of Congress have two type preferences OUTCOME BASED PREFERENCES-concern for what gets pass POSITION BASED PREFERENCES- concerned about the position they take more than what pass IF VOTING IS CLOSED OUTCOME BASED PREFERENCES WOULD BE MORE IMPORTANT PUBLIC VOTING POSITION BASED PREFERENCES WOULD BE MORE IMPORTANT