| Economics and Philosophy |
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Spring/Summer 2005
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Professor: Roger
D. Congleton
Office : GWII: 02:25 |
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| Office Hours: | Tuesday and Wednesday 2:30 - 3:30, and most other times by appointment | . |
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Recommended Texts: |
Mueller, D. C. (1996) Constitutional Democracy. New York: Oxford University Press. Congleton, R.D. (2003) Improving Democracy through Constitutional Reform, Some Swedish Lessons. Kluwer Academic Press. |
J-Stor Journals Public Choice Society FEC US Constitution / Constitutions Elections Market Gallup RDC1.Net |
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| Dates | Lectures | Text Readings (See Syllabus for complete reading list) |
| 12/4 | I. Introduction: The Constitution as Rules for Making Rules |
M 1
C 2, 7 |
| Prof. Congleton out of town |
Rational Choice and Politics |
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| 3/5 | II. Logic of Collective Action | |
| 10/5 | III. Contemporary Rational Choice Theories of the Origin of Government | C7, 8 |
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Overview of Constitutional Theory and Analysis
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| 17/5 | IV. Early Constitutional Analysis | A Sample of
Plato A Sample of Aristotle More Snippets |
| 24/5 | V. The Elightenment: Constitutions as Social Contracts | Quotes from Enlightenment Political Theorists Montesquieu Bk 10 |
| 7/6 | Wittgenstein Lectures: Brian Skyrms | |
| 14/6 | VI. Modern Contractarians | Buchanan, Limits of Liberty Rawls, Justice as Fairness |
| Elements of Constitutional Design | ||
| 21/6 | VII.Democratic Constitutional Design: Problems and Solutions | M 27;
C 9 |
| 28/6 | VIII. Assessing the Relative Merits of Constitutional Designs | C 7-9 |
| 5/7 | IX.Beyond Majority Rule: Protecting Minority Interests | C: 10 |
| 12/7 | X. Constitutional Durability and Stability | M 10; C: 10 ; Ch 11 |
| 30/9 | FINAL PAPERS DUE AT congleto@gmu.edu (E-mail only) | Ideas for Final Papers |
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| Course Grades :
2 pointers: Final Exam 100% 10 pointers: Final Exam 20% + Final 13-16 page paper 80%
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