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.