Deck 13: Politics, Media, and Social Movements

Question 1

In defining power, Max Weber argued that

A) people who have power should be prepared to defend it from those who want it if they want to keep it
B) people who have power should share it in order to create a more equitable society
C) power is in the mind of the beholder, and its definition varies from person to person
D) power is always violent

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The struggle for ____________ defines modern politics.

A) influence
B) compassion
C) violence
D) individual rights

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following does NOT, by definition, characterize the modern state?

A) Respect for the socially vulnerable
B) Clearly defined boundaries
C) The right to use violence if the state deems it necessary
D) The ability to rule

Answer 3

A

Question 4

In most political conflicts, ______________ the most power.

A) individuals have
B) the state has
C) interest groups have
D) social movements have

Question 5

Which kind of power uses rewards and punishments to motivate desired behavior?

A) Rational-legal authority
B) Charismatic authority
C) Traditional authority
D) Coercive power

Question 6

What kind of power relies on an appeal to a leader's adherence to custom, heritage, or the way things have always been?

A) Rational-legal authority
B) Charismatic authority
C) Traditional authority
D) Coercive power

Question 7

What kind of power relies on an appeal to clearly defined rules?

A) Rational-legal authority
B) Charismatic authority
C) Traditional authority
D) Coercive power

Question 8

What kind of power relies on the personal qualities of a leader in order to convince others to act in a particular way?

A) Rational-legal authority
B) Charismatic authority
C) Traditional authority
D) Coercive power

Question 9

A form of power where dominant groups are able to make their worldview seem like "common sense" to the rest of the population is termed

A) coercion
B) democracy
C) politics
D) hegemony

Question 10

Compared to the average America, members of Congress are more likely to be all of the following EXCEPT

A) old
B) male
C) from a low-status occupation
D) affluent

Question 11

In the U.S., full-time work is typically defined as year-round work of 40 hours per week, not including mandatory but unpaid lunch breaks, with two weeks of vacation. However, this is a relatively recent development in American history, going back only to the 1940s with the creation of social welfare programs such as Social Security; for most of world history, people worked far fewer hours than Americans do today, and globally, contemporary Americans work far more hours than their peers in other nations. The fact that most Americans consider non-disabled people 23-65 who do not work these hours to be lazy is a sign of

A) the persuasive power of a single charismatic leader to preach the value of hard work to us
B) the persuasive power of tradition to keep alive expectations about employment over hundreds of years
C) the coercive power of the state to force people to work or face imprisonment
D) the hegemonic power of capitalism to convince us that paid employment is normal and should be expected of every adult of a certain age

Question 12

Most power is exercised through

A) force
B) coercion
C) violence
D) persuasion

Question 13

The goal of persuasive power is to

A) annihilate those who would oppose your will
B) discourage others from even attempting to resist your request because they fear the consequences of doing so
C) convince others that resisting your request is a waste of energy because you will defeat them no matter what
D) convince others that a request for a particular action is legitimate

Question 14

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a collection of kingdoms, each ruled by a single ruler, a sheikh, with the position of rule being handed down through family lines. Each of the seven kingdoms has autonomy, but they also work together, with their seven leaders forming the Federal Supreme Council. In this way, the UAE is a federation of

A) one-party states
B) republican democracies
C) monarchies
D) parliamentary democracies

Question 15

In a nation where a monarch has total authority over the government, the monarchy is

A) absolute
B) constitutional
C) republican
D) parliamentary

Question 16

In the United Kingdom, members of the national body of lawmakers are directly elected by voters, and then these federal legislators choose a leader from the dominant party. This system is an example of

A) parliamentary democracy
B) presidential democracy
C) a one-party state
D) a quasi-republican state

Question 17

One advantage that a parliamentary democracy has over a presidential one is that

A) the person elected as leader of a parliamentary democracy (typically called a prime minister) is always the most popular politician in the nation, so it is easy to find public support for their policies
B) the leader of a parliamentary democracy (typically called a prime minister) has no political ties to members of parliament and so can act more independently than a president often can
C) compromise is typically easier to reach
D) voters feel invested in politics since their votes directly elect the national executive

Question 18

Though it holds elections, China only permits members of its national Communist party to run. For this reason, China is not a democracy but a

A) one-party state
B) dictatorship
C) monarchy
D) republic

Question 19

Popular sovereignty is the idea that

A) all legislation should be voted on by all those people it would affect
B) the people should rule themselves through their government
C) government should be comprised of politicians who share many demographic qualities with the people they govern.
D) there should be a test for public office that includes moral, cognitive, intelligence, and psychological components

Question 20

Over time, the number of nations that are democracies has

A) shrunk
B) grown
C) remained constant
D) been difficult to count, since many nations are democratic in some ways but not others

Question 21

Which nation was NOT an early adopter of democracy?

A) France
B) England
C) Saudi Arabia
D) The United States

Question 22

In a constitutional monarchy, the power of the king or queen is

A) virtually unlimited
B) very limited
C) limited in some areas but unlimited in others
D) greater than it was under an absolute monarchy

Question 23

Most democratic nations today are

A) democratic republics with a constitutional monarchy
B) constitutional monarchies that were formally just democratic republics
C) constitutional monarchies that were formally absolute monarchies
D) democratic republics without a constitutional monarchy

Question 24

Is it harder to dismiss an executive leader in a presidential or parliamentary system?

A) Presidential, because the legislature can vote for removal.
B) Parliamentary, because the legislature can vote for removal.
C) Presidential, because the people can directly vote for a recall of the president.
D) Parliamentary, because the people can directly vote for a recall of the president.

Question 25

In a presidential system, unlike a parliamentary system,

A) there is no separation of powers between different parts of the government, and the executive is all-powerful
B) the executive is selected by the judiciary (national judges)
C) c. the executive can belong to a party other than the largest party in the legislature
D) the executive must belong to the most popular party in the legislature

Question 26

In a parliamentary system, as compared to a presidential one,

A) the leader of the nation is not required to have any experience as a lawmaker
B) the leader of the nation is a member of the legislature
C) the leader of the party can be voted out by a referendum in which the people vote directly from their removal
D) the leader of the party must have experience as a judge in the court system

Question 27

Presidents, in contrast to leaders in parliamentary systems, may be more likely to be seen as leaders for all the people of their nation, not just some of them, because

A) they are required to share office with a vice-president who is demographically different than them in a significant way (such as gender, race, regionality, religion, etc.) in order to provide more voters with a leaders likely to share some of their demographic characteristics
B) they do not run with the support of a particular political party
C) they adopt a tone of humility and inclusiveness in their public speeches
D) they are elected by the people, even if indirectly, not by a political party

Question 28

In a parliamentary system, members of the national legislature vote on a new national leader

A) every year
B) whenever they want, with notice
C) every two years
D) every five years

Question 29

Historically, there have been

A) more stable and successful one-party systems of government than parliamentary ones
B) about the same number of stable and successful parliamentary systems of government as presidential ones
C) more stable and successful parliamentary systems of government than presidential ones.
D) more stable and successful presidential systems of government than parliamentary ones

Question 30

In a parliamentary system, extended gridlock (failure of the federal legislature to act on issues of public concern) often leads to

A) new elections
B) revolutions
C) new constitutions
D) a return to absolute monarchy

Question 31

Brexit refers to

A) the effort of some people in England to dissolve England's relationship with the European Union
B) the effort of some people in England to dissolve England's relationship with the United Nations
C) the effort of some people in England to dissolve England's relationship with the other entities in Great Britain, like Scotland and Wales
D) the effort of some people in England to ban immigrants from living in the British Isles

Question 32

A straw poll is

A) an informal test of public opinion, not seen as predictive of a final result of an election but serving as a kind of picture of current levels of support for candidates in that moment
B) efforts to persuade voters to vote for or against a certain candidate that are disguised as a survey
C) "get out the vote" efforts that involve political parties actually driving voters to the voting booth
D) the tradition of automatic voter registration for all those people who are eligible to vote

Question 33

What is one reason why Lyndon B. Johnson, the incumbent president, did not seek re-election in 1968?

A) Polls showed that the Vietnam War was very unpopular and, as a consequence, Americans did not support his leadership and would not vote for him again.
B) He was credibly accused of trying to steal information about the campaign of his political opponent and decided to resign rather than be formally accused of illegal behavior.
C) He was so focused on advocating for civil rights that he did not want to give attention to the work of re-election.
D) He passed voting rights legislation that removed barriers to African Americans in the South voting, and feared backlash from white voters there.

Question 34

Which politician is known for bringing the "push poll" into public use?

A) Andrew Jackson
B) Lyndon Johnson
C) Richard Nixon
D) Donald Trump

Question 35

Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits bans on voting due to race?

A) 13th
B) 15th
C) 19th
D) 24th

Question 36

Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution recognized women's right to vote?

A) 13th
B) 15th
C) 19th
D) 24th

Question 37

Previously in U.S. history, in order to vote, you had to pay a tax at the poll. Such poll taxes prevented poor people from voting. They were eliminated with what amendment to the U.S. Constitution?

A) 13th
B) 15th
C) 19th
D) 24th

Question 38

In the U.S., as compared to the non-voters, voters are more likely to be each of the following EXCEPT

A) white
B) well-educated
C) wealthy
D) young

Question 39

In the U.S., voter rates have been

A) declining since the late 1800s
B) lower in federal elections than in state and local ones
C) increasing since the late 1800s
D) typically over 80%

Question 40

An organization that brings people together on the basis of a common issue, which attempts to influence political decision-makers on topics that are related to that issue is called

A) an interest group
B) a think tank
C) a political party
D) a monarchy

Question 41

People hired to meet with lawmakers to convince them to vote for legislation that supports the goal of the interest group that hired them are, by profession,

A) constituents
B) community organizers
C) lobbyists
D) legacy media

Question 42

The public sphere is

A) any place where a voting booth can be legally placed
B) tax-supported spaces, such as parks and public schools
C) online forums where people share unpopular political opinions without fear of social sanctioning
D) the collection of places where private individuals and elected officials gather together to discuss matters of common concern

Question 43

Most discussions of politics today

A) happen at the holidays, among family members
B) occur face-to-face
C) happen in public, where people who do not wish to speak can still listen
D) happen via mass media or social media

Question 44

The stories that the major news organizations emphasize influence the topics that people discuss with each other, in their face-to-face conversations as well as on social media platforms. This is evidence of

A) unreliable anonymous informants that journalists often rely on in securing information for political stories
B) ethical violations in journalism
C) media bias
D) agenda-setting

Question 45

Between 50% and 75% of sources for news stories are

A) scientists, including social scientists
B) government sources
C) everyday people asked for their opinions
D) lobbyists

Question 46

Because newspapers can charge more for ads that target wealthy consumers, they

A) start to write stories that interest wealthy readers
B) devote more space to coverage of important political issues
C) hire more journalists to cover political news in more locations
D) reduce the number of stories about "lifestyle" issues, like where to go on vacation or stories about fashion

Question 47

When ordinary people collaborate to create social change using channels outside of traditional politics, such as voting, they are part of a

A) think tank
B) interest group
C) lobbyist group
D) social movement

Question 48

The Labor Movement's successes include all of the following EXCEPT

A) the international outlawing of dangerous working conditions
B) bans on child workers
C) the creation of the weekend
D) minimum wage laws

Question 49

According to sociologist Charles Tilly, social movements make identity claims when they state publicly that

A) the social movement will not rule out the use of violence or other disruptive tactics if their demands are not met through peaceful persuasion
B) the public should support or oppose specific policy changes that align with the social movement's goals
C) the people the social group represents deserve to be included in society
D) the social movement and the people it represents are a unified force

Question 50

According to sociologist Charles Tilly, social movements make program claims when they state publicly that

A) the social movement will not rule out the use of violence or other disruptive tactics if their demands are not met through peaceful persuasion
B) the public should support or oppose specific policy changes that align with the social movement's goals
C) the people the social group represents deserve to be included in society
D) the social movement and the people it represents are a unified force

Question 51

According to sociologist Charles Tilly, social movements make standing claims when they state publicly that

A) the social movement will not rule out the use of violence or other disruptive tactics if their demands are not met through peaceful persuasion
B) the public should support or oppose specific policy changes that align with the social movement's goals
C) the people the social group represents deserve to be included in society
D) the social movement and the people it represents are a unified force

Question 52

The environmental group Greenpeace began with a protest that successful persuaded the U.S. to

A) ban the practice of whale hunting in all U.S. waters
B) abandon the building of a pipeline in North and South Dakota
C) abandon nuclear testing in Alaska
D) abandon fracking in Oklahoma

Question 53

The theory of __________ links social movement success to theory resources of money, legitimacy, facilities and labor.

A) resource mobilization
B) structural strain
C) political opportunity structure
D) symbolic politics

Question 54

_______________ occurs when a small number of companies control a disproportionately large share of the media audience.

A) Audience captivity
B) Mediation of politics
C) Media consolidation
D) Media bias

Question 55

________ is a type of political activity in which the meanings associated with a political action are just as important as the policies or the social changes being proposed.

A) Resource mobilization
B) Structural strain
C) Political opportunity structure
D) Symbolic politics

Question 56

According to the theory of ______________, the political opportunities available for successful social movement action occurs when there are changes in political alliances, political conflicts among elites, or when there are clear alliances that can be made with specific political groups.

A) resource mobilization
B) structural strain
C) political opportunity structure
D) symbolic politics

Question 57

_____________ theory connects structural inequalities, grievances, and social movements.

A) Resource mobilization
B) Structural strain
C) Political opportunity structure
D) Symbolic politics

Question 58

Which theory of social movement explains events like the 1965 Watts riots in Los Angeles?

A) Resource mobilization
B) Structural strain
C) Political opportunity structure
D) Symbolic politics

Question 59

_________________ is the feeling of social connection and belonging we have, which gives rise to ______________.

A) Social solidarity, social capital
B) Social capital, social solidarity
C) Social equality, social fraternity
D) Social fraternity, social equality

Question 60

How were the interests of white slave owners protected through the Electoral College?

A) The law counted white women in slave-holding states as full citizens for the purpose of determining the number of electors a state had but did not count women in states that prohibited slavery.
B) The law allowed states with slavery to count enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for purposes of the U.S. Census, which determines how many electors a state is awarded, without giving enslaved people the right to vote.
C) The law allowed slave owners' votes to be weighted more heavily than the votes of people who did not own slaves, arguing that, since they owned more property, they paid higher taxes and should have more influence over elections.
D) The law counted enslaved Africans and African Americans as people for the purpose of the Census, which determines the number of electors in the Electoral College, but did not count free blacks-people who had escaped slavery or been born into free families-the same way, giving more weight to votes in Southern states.