Deck 35: The Power Elite

Question 1

Which of the following is characteristic of the elite?

A) They have power to make decisions with major consequences.
B) They are confined by simple family responsibilities.
C) They always profess their power.
D) They are made by their jobs.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Those who believe in a powerful elite in America often base this belief on ______.

A) personal experience
B) history
C) religious ideology
D) failure

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Mills argues that all of the following institutional hierarchies constitute the means of power in American society except ______.

A) politics
B) economics
C) education
D) the military

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The typical institutional unit has become ______.

A) decentralized
B) administrative
C) smaller
D) unimportant

Question 5

Which term best describes the relationship between the three large institutional domains?

A) structural
B) isolated
C) superficial
D) interlocking

Question 6

Historically, what happened when small entrepreneurs failed?

A) The consequences remained local.
B) Political authorities intervened.
C) The military helped out.
D) Schools were in crisis.

Question 7

No one can be truly powerful without access to ______.

A) prestige
B) wealth
C) institutions
D) aristocracy

Question 8

What is the primary source of wealth?

A) the modern corporation
B) infrastructure
C) the military elite
D) consumption

Question 9

When do the elite recognize their own social class?

A) when they write their autobiography
B) when outsiders try to enter their circle
C) when they are sitting on their terraces
D) when marriages fail

Question 10

All of the following are true of the upper strata in the United States except they ______.

A) are less visible than in Europe
B) have emerged from the aristocracy
C) are insulated from economic problems
D) make decisions of consequence

Question 11

Identify the three points of crisis of mod?ern capitalist society.

Question 12

Briefly describe the big three of power as outlined by Mills.

Question 13

Which individuals are at the top of each of the three enlarged and centralized domains?

Question 14

Explain the accumulative nature of prestige and provide an example.

Question 15

Describe how one hundred of the most powerful men in America could become powerless.