Questions:
Question 1
The idea that the unresponsiveness of the federal government to Hurricane Katrina was due to the large black population affected could be called:
A. hyperpluralist thinking.
B. a critique of the incompetence of FEMA.
C. a belief in an elite conspiracy.
D. a pluralist interpretation of government inactivity.
Question 2
Barack Obama's presidential campaign grassroots organizing effort using the Internet's variety of social-networking tools is considered:
A. an example of the manipulation of the masses by elites.
B. an example of the presence of pluralist dynamics in national elections.
C. to have played a very small role in his election.
D. to have been an effective means of drawing large donors into his network
Question 3
The central disagreement in the debate between pluralist and elitist theories concerns:
A. whether elites exist.
B. whether the elites are representative and competitive.
C. whether people directly participate in the political game.
D. whether elites seek to depress voter turnout
Question 4
The __________ campaign used Internet social networks to broaden its grassroots support and involvement.
A. Clinton
B. Bush
C. Obama
D. None of the above
Question 5
Two essential elements of pluralist theory are:
A. elite conflict and mass consensus on all issues.
B. consensus and elite agreement.
C. compromise and conflict.
D. consensus and conflict.
Question 6
Which of the following is considered a power elite theorist?
A. Robert Dahl
B. C. Wright Mills
C. William Greider
D. Both B and C are correct.
Question 7
Bargaining and group membership are essential elements of __________ theory.
A. campaign strategy
B. bi-partison
C. capitalist
D. pluralist
Question 8
According to __________ of pluralism, powerful elites may prevent important issues from reaching the __________ arena for a decision.
A. critics; public
B. critics; private
C. supporters; public
D. supporters; private
Question 9
In the power elite approach, power comes mainly from:
A. individuals.
B. institutions.
C. the mass public.
D. Congress.
Question 10
"In the United States the political stratum does not constitute a homogeneous class with well-defined class interests." This assertion is associated with the __________ approach.
A. pluralist
B. power elite
C. plural elitism
D. hyperpluralism
Question 11
Consensus is best described as:
A. the result of political compromises.
B. common sense.
C. a broad public agreement on basic political questions.
D. the people of a country voting frequently
Question 12
The political and policy dynamics documented in Robert Dahl's "Who Governs?" might be found in which of the following situations?
A. A small town with a history of certain families holding political office
B. A county run by one political party with an extensive local network of loyalists
C. A term-limited state legislature dominated by powerful utility, banking, and insurance lobbyists
D. A heterogeneous city with many grassroots ethnic and policy groups lobbying City Hall
Question 13
The power elite theory is:
A. a theory of the political left.
B. a theory of the political right.
C. held by both the left and right.
D. held only by political scientists in colleges
Question 14
According to pluralistic theory, people get power through:
A. voting.
B. joining the military-industrial complex.
C. becoming a member of a group(s).
D. joining a revolutionary party.
Question 15
In both pluralism and elitism, government actions are produced by:
A. forces generally external to the government.
B. the result of irrational, corrupt forces.
C. the consensus of society.
D. the manipulation of a unified elite
Question 16
The idea that politics is divided into separate policy arenas dominated by narrow elites is found in:
A. pluralism.
B. elitism.
C. consensus politics.
D. plural elitism.
Question 17
Which of the following is an important element of the power elite theory?
A. Mass public opinion influences the power elite.
B. Politics is a conflict between those with and without power.
C. Power is held by a ruling class.
D. Both B and C are correct
Question 18
Under pluralism, a member of two interest groups competing over an issue such as health care or the environment would likely:
A. resign his or her membership from both groups.
B. decide to remain neutral on the issue.
C. try to have both groups reach a compromise.
D. pick one side in the conflict.
Question 19
Conspiracy theorists generally __________ the view that government is a reflection of group compromises.
A. accept
B. reject
C. support
D. undermine
Question 20
In pluralist theory, the government acts as a(n):
A. protector of the wealthy.
B. referee.
C. interest group.
D. barrier.