Question 1

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,

Accepted Answer

Lobbyists are professionals hired by interest groups to influence lawmakers to support specific legislation.

Question 2

The public sphere is

Accepted Answer

The public sphere refers to spaces where individuals and officials engage in discussions about societal issues, fostering public debate and opinion formation.

Question 3

Most discussions of politics today

Accepted Answer

Most political discussions today occur through mass media or social media platforms, reflecting the significant role that digital communication and media outlets play in disseminating information and facilitating public discourse.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

The concept described is agenda-setting, which is the idea that the media doesn't tell us what to think, but rather what to think about by selecting which stories to highlight.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Government sources are often used in news stories because they are authoritative and provide official information, making them a primary choice for journalists seeking to report on policies, regulations, and government actions.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

Newspapers may tailor their content to attract wealthy readers, as these readers are more appealing to advertisers willing to pay higher rates for targeted ads. This can lead to a focus on topics that interest these demographics, potentially at the expense of broader or more varied content.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

Social movements are collective efforts by ordinary people to create social change through means outside of traditional political channels, such as protests, awareness campaigns, and grassroots organizing, rather than through voting, lobbying, or being part of formal interest groups or think tanks.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

The international outlawing of dangerous working conditions is not a direct success of the Labor Movement as labor laws and regulations vary significantly by country, and there is no universal international law that outlaws dangerous working conditions. The Labor Movement has indeed contributed to raising awareness and pushing for better working conditions globally, but its successes are more accurately reflected in national or local laws rather than an international agreement or outlawing.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to sociologist Charles Tilly, social movements...

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

Program claims involve social movements making public statements to advocate for or against specific policy changes that align with their goals, as described by Charles Tilly.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Standing claims refer to the assertion that the people the social group represents deserve to be included in society, highlighting their legitimacy and right to be part of the social fabric.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

Greenpeace was initially formed to protest against nuclear testing. Their first protest was aimed at stopping a U.S. nuclear test in Amchitka, Alaska, in 1971. This action is credited with helping to bring about a halt to the nuclear testing program there.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

The theory of resource mobilization emphasizes the importance of resources such as money, legitimacy, facilities, and labor in the success of social movements, arguing that access to these resources is crucial for the movement's activities and achievements.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

Media consolidation occurs when a small number of companies or corporations control a large share of the media market. This concentration of ownership can lead to a reduction in diversity of viewpoints and content available to the public.

Question 15

________ 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.

Accepted Answer

Symbolic politics refers to the aspect of political activity where the symbolism and meanings attached to actions, events, or policies are of equal or greater importance than the tangible outcomes or changes proposed. This approach emphasizes how political actors use symbols and narratives to shape perceptions, identities, and influence public opinion.

Question 16

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.

Accepted Answer

The theory of political opportunity structure suggests that the success of social movements is heavily influenced by external political opportunities, such as shifts in political alliances, conflicts among elites, or the potential for alliances with specific political groups. This theory emphasizes the importance of the broader political context in which social movements operate.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

Structural strain theory connects structural inequalities, grievances, and social movements by explaining how societal pressures and tensions can lead to collective action.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

The Structural strain theory explains social movements as responses to structural inequalities, frustrations, and strains within a society. The 1965 Watts riots, as an example, can be understood through this lens as a response to racial tensions, economic disparities, and systemic injustices faced by African Americans, which created a strain that erupted into social unrest.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

Social solidarity refers to the sense of unity and mutual support within a society or group, which fosters social capital, the networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

The Three-Fifths Compromise allowed states with slavery to count enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of congressional representation and taxation, which indirectly influenced the number of electors a state received in the Electoral College, without granting voting rights to the enslaved population.

Quiz 13: Politics, Media, and Social Movements