POLS 207 Lecture 11

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The Power of 'No'

Role of governor is to represent all people and not allow a few districts to rule the state.

Why aren't there more vetoes? It's just the threat of the veto: no one likes to be overridden

Examples of "NO" in government

veto
supreme court
elections (no to other guy more so than yes to one guy)
Non-decisions: ("I control the agenda") omitting a decision from the ballot. The second face of power (first face: convincing everyone vote for some option)

Controlling the conversation: steering the topic to cover what you want/don't want to talk about

(Closely guarded secret in Washington: when are we going on vacation? ask the wives and other people closest to them)

Easily controls policy outcomes.

State legislature decides voting regions, and they draw districts so it's easier for incumbents to win