Institutional Modifications of Majority Rule

Abstract

Social, economic, and organizational development require a degree of stable policy making. The instability of group decision making under majority rule has preoccupied social theorists since Condorcet in the late 18th century. In theory, subtle institutional modifications to pure majority rule may be sufficient to induce stability. This paper reviews experimental evidence regarding these stability inducing modifications. The experiments examine the impact of agenda control, super-majority voting requirements, veto powers, and bicameralism on group decision making.