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.