Deck 12: Politics and Economics: Probing Power, Dissecting Distribution

Question 1

The ability of a person or groups to realize their own will in group action even against the resistance of others is referred to as ______.

A) power
B) anomie
C) authority
D) influence

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following sociologists is responsible for the most common definition of power used in the social sciences today?

A) Karl Marx
B) Max Weber
C) Émile Durkheim
D) Auguste Comte

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Leaders of a national government who use police to attempt to control the behavior of individuals are engaging in ______.

A) rules of conduct
B) physical force
C) symbolic control
D) internal conduct

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Leaders of a national government who use the media to attempt to control the behavior of individuals are engaging in ______.

A) rules of conduct
B) physical force
C) symbolic control
D) internal conduct

Question 5

Leaders of a national government channel their power into laws in an attempt to control the behavior of citizens. The leaders are engaging in ______.

A) rules of conduct
B) physical force
C) symbolic control
D) internal conduct

Question 6

Which of the following theorists believe that those with power over the economy can control government officials and can convince the public that what is good for the rich is good for everyone?

A) pluralists
B) functionalists
C) conflict theorists
D) symbolic interactionists

Question 7

Which of the following scenarios reflects a power process at the meso level?

A) The state of Nevada alters its tax code.
B) Members of a cheerleading squad vote for team captain.
C) Global treaties set carbon emission standards.
D) The President of the United States delivers the State of the Union Address.

Question 8

Which of the following theorists are most interested in how flags and anthems contribute to the power of the state?

A) pluralists
B) symbolic interactionists
C) conflict theorists
D) rational choice theorists

Question 9

Power that is considered legitimate and right by those subject to it is referred to as ______.

A) authority
B) privilege
C) coercion
D) influence

Question 10

Which of the following is another word for illegitimate power?

A) primacy
B) predominance
C) coercion
D) war

Question 11

Which of the following types of authority is held by Queen Elizabeth II, who inherited the throne from her father, King George VI?

A) traditional authority
B) charismatic authority
C) rational-legal authority
D) legitimate authority

Question 12

Which of the following types of authority was held by Cesar Chavez, who was known for his oratory skills and his ability to relate to the masses?

A) traditional authority
B) charismatic authority
C) rational-legal authority
D) irrational authority

Question 13

Thirty-five U.S. senators were elected in 2018. What type of authority do they hold?

A) traditional authority
B) charismatic authority
C) rational-legal authority
D) irrational authority

Question 14

Which of the following theorists point out that people tend to vote for their own personal gain, regardless of whether the actions of those in power will be fair to all citizens?

A) functionalists
B) pluralists
C) conflict theorists
D) rational choice theorists

Question 15

Which of the following theorists assert that individuals influence decision-making practices primarily through interest groups?

A) conflict theorists
B) pluralists
C) elite theorists
D) feminist theorists

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of an interest group in the United States?

A) the Republican Party
B) the government of Texas
C) the National Rifle Association
D) college-educated voters

Question 17

Which of the following do elite theorists assert?

A) Power is distributed among various groups so that no one group has complete power.
B) Multiple power centers offer the best chance to maintain democracy.
C) A powerful government serves as a balance to the corporate world.
D) Government seldom regulates business.

Question 18

Political philosopher Robert Michels described the pattern of elite rule as the ______.

A) the iron cage of rationality
B) the iron law of oligarchy
C) the circulation of elites
D) the circulation of power

Question 19

Social philosopher Vilfredo Pareto pointed out that abuse of power results in a counter group challenging the elites for power. The cycle continues when the counter group gains power and becomes corrupt. This is known as the ______.

A) authority cycle
B) cycle of violence
C) circulation of elites
D) iron law of oligarchy

Question 20

According to C. Wright Mills, which of the following is TRUE of the power elite in the United States?

A) They wield power from behind the scenes.
B) They are disconnected from each other.
C) They all work in the political sphere.
D) They have diverse educational backgrounds.

Question 21

Which of the following is a reason why poorer people are more likely to vote in the United States?

A) Their own self-interests are at stake.
B) They tend to feel that politics has little relevance for them.
C) They have the time to follow the news and political issues.
D) They have been socialized to believe they can make an impact on the political process.

Question 22

Which of the following is TRUE of voting in the United States?

A) Voting is compulsory.
B) Elections are held over multiple days to ensure that people can get to the polls.
C) Inmates in prison are expected to vote.
D) Voter ID laws make it difficult for some citizens to vote.

Question 23

When a state government passes a law banning physicians-assisted suicide, which of the following purposes of government is it fulfilling?

A) to maintain social control
B) to serve as an arbiter in disputes
C) to represent the group in relations with other groups and societies
D) to make plans for the future of the group

Question 24

When a district court hears a housing case, which of the following purposes of government is it fulfilling?

A) to provide for the needs of its citizens
B) to make plans for the future of the group
C) to serve as an arbiter in disputes
D) to protect citizens

Question 25

When the government invests in counter-terrorism operations, which of the following purposes of government is it fulfilling?

A) to maintain social control
B) to represent the group in relations with other groups or societies
C) to serve as an arbiter in disputes
D) to protect citizens

Question 26

When the government sends officials to negotiate a trade agreement, which of the following purposes of government is it fulfilling?

A) to provide for the needs of its citizens
B) to maintain social control
C) to represent the group in relations with other groups or societies
D) to protect citizens

Question 27

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets several times a year to set monetary policy and interest rates. Which of the following purposes of political and economic institutions do they fulfill?

A) to serve as an arbiter in disputes
B) to make plans for the future of the group
C) to maintain social control
D) to provide for the needs of its citizens

Question 28

As of 2016, there were nearly 57 million Americans receiving Medicare. Which of the following purposes of political and institutions does the government fulfill by offering this service?

A) to make plans for the future of the group
B) to provide for the needs of its citizens
C) to maintain social control
D) to represent the group in relations with other groups or societies.

Question 29

______ is the social institution that deals with the production and distribution of goods and services.

A) Economics
B) Politics
C) Trade
D) Industry

Question 30

In ______ governments, power is concentrated in the hands of an absolute monarch, dictator, or small group NOT accountable to the people.

A) authoritarian
B) totalitarian
C) democratic
D) congressional

Question 31

Which of the following distinguishes totalitarian governments from authoritarian governments?

A) Power is backed by the military.
B) Political leaders exert tremendous power and discourage dissent.
C) Power is concentrated in the hands of one leader or small group not accountable to the people.
D) Political leaders also control the social and economic institutions.

Question 32

Which of the following is TRUE of ideal-type democracies?

A) Political leaders control social and economic institutions.
B) All officials are elected.
C) Civil liberties are guaranteed.
D) Political leaders discourage dissent.

Question 33

Which of the following is characteristic of planned economic systems?

A) There is a deep suspicion of the exploitation that can occur when individuals pursue their own self-interests.
B) Innovative entrepreneurs are rewarded for taking risks and solving problems in new ways.
C) There is an assumption that the laws of supply and demand will allow some to profit and some to fail.
D) There is a complete elimination of private property.

Question 34

______ economies try to balance societal needs and individual freedoms.

A) Market
B) Mixed
C) Planned systems
D) Capitalist

Question 35

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the concept of the nation-state and nationalism?

A) Nationalism is an ancient concept.
B) Nationalism emerged before the creation of the nation-state.
C) Nation-states first emerged in Asia.
D) Nation-states were first widely acknowledged in the 19th century.

Question 36

______ refers to social and political transformations of a nation that result when states fail to fulfill their expected responsibilities.

A) War
B) Conflict
C) Terrorism
D) Revolution

Question 37

Which of the following tends to be a precondition for the emergence of democracy?

A) low levels of economic well-being
B) high economic stratification
C) a market-oriented economy
D) a highly biased media

Question 38

______ refers to the planned use of random, unlawful violence or threat of violence against civilians to create fear or intimidate citizens in order to advance the terrorist group's political or ideological goals.

A) War
B) Genocide
C) Terrorism
D) Revolution

Question 39

According to Max Weber, illegitimate power is sustained by brute force or coercion.

Question 40

Traditional authority is the most typical type of legitimate power in modern nation-states.

Question 41

Charismatic leadership is inherently change-oriented.

Question 42

Elite theorists believe that pluralists overestimate the power of interest groups.

Question 43

Wealthier people are more likely to vote.

Question 44

Participation in elections in the United States is the second highest of the Global North democracies.

Question 45

One of the six functions of political and economic institutions is to provide for the needs of citizens, which involves providing social services such as welfare.

Question 46

Authoritarian regimes are rare forms of government.

Question 47

State terrorism refers to instances in which governments use terror as a tactic to deal with internal or external dissent.

Question 48

The United States uses a system of proportional representation.

Question 49

Karl Marx believed that the worst kind of government was state capitalism, in which the government controls the economy.

Question 50

Revolutions tend to occur when governments do NOT respond to the needs of their citizens.

Question 51

In the United States, there is consistency among the individual states in the way that the Electoral College is selected.

Question 52

A nation's social structure and cultural traditions are key to the successful development of democracy.

Question 53

Deterrence involves resolving conflicts by discussions to reach agreement.

Question 54

Deterrence, in response to terrorism, has limited effectiveness in part due to the fact that some terrorists are difficult to locate.

Question 55

What is power? What are the three main ways that leaders attempt to control the behavior of individuals?

Question 56

What are the three main ways leaders with legitimate power attempt to gain their position? Give an example of each type of authority.

Question 57

Compare and contrast the pluralist and the power elite views on power.

Question 58

How does voter turnout in the United States compare with other democratic countries? What factors contribute to this level of participation in politics?

Question 59

Why is the role of political legislators so complex?

Question 60

What are the characteristics of an ideal-type democracy? Do many democracies fit this description?

Question 61

What are the key criticism of market systems and planned economic systems?

Question 62

What is democratic socialism? What aspects of democratic socialism exist in the United States?

Question 63

What is a revolution? What are the conditions in which they are most likely to take place?

Question 64

Decisions at the state or provincial level can have major effects on political processes at the national level. Provide a real-life example that reflects this fact.

Question 65

How transportable is democracy? What are the preconditions that tend to be necessary for the successful emergence of democracy?

Question 66

All sociological perspectives agree that war is NOT a natural or biological necessity, but what are some of the functions (both manifest and latent) of war?

Question 67

What are deterrence and negotiation? Provide an example of each.

Question 68

How do conflict theorists explain terrorism?