Deck 25: Economic Democracy

Question 1

Whats defention of terms:
-cooperative enterprise

Answer 1

concern in which each employee/owner has one vote on how to run the enterprise

Question 2

Whats defention of terms:
-economic democracy

Answer 2

the people rule the economy, not just politics

Question 3

Whats defention of terms:
-effective political democracy

Answer 3

system existing when a country not only has all of the mechanisms and forms of democracy, but is also characterized by a situation in which all citizens have a significant amount of power and no minority with wealth or military control has disproportionate power

Question 4

Whats defention of terms:
-formal political democracy

Question 5

Describe the formal structures of democracy.
-What is the definition of democracy? Give examples of the formal structures and institutions of democracy.

Question 6

Describe the formal structures of democracy.
-How can you have a formal democratic structure in place that is not really democratic? Give historical examples and explain.

Question 7

Distinguish between formal and effective democracy.
-Can you have an effective democracy without the structures of democracy? Can you have a formal democracy without having an effective democracy? Explain.

Question 8

Distinguish between formal and effective democracy.
-What are some barriers to effective democracy?

Question 9

Distinguish between formal and effective democracy.
-What are some possible conflicts of interest in how the media presents news and events? How could these conflicts create bias in reporting? What policies would you recommend to attempt to stop biased reporting?

Question 10

Distinguish between formal and effective democracy.
-"It's not what you know, it's who you know." How could this statement apply to elections?

Question 11

Distinguish between formal and effective democracy.
-What is the relationship of income to percentage of voter turnouts and political participation? What might be some reasons? What would you suggest to increase voter participation at lower income levels?

Question 12

Distinguish between formal and effective democracy.
-Does big business have total control of elected officials and policies? Support your argument.

Question 13

Discuss characteristics and examples of economic democracy.
-What is the authors' definition of economic democracy? What does that mean?

Question 14

Discuss characteristics and examples of economic democracy.
-What is a cooperative enterprise? Give examples. In what way is a cooperative enterprise democratic? Could a cooperative enterprise be operated in a way that was non-democratic? Explain.

Question 15

Discuss characteristics and examples of economic democracy.
-What is an ESOP? Give examples.

Question 16

Discuss characteristics and examples of economic democracy.
-What are the arguments for and against cooperative enterprises?

Question 17

Discuss characteristics and examples of economic democracy.
-What are the arguments for and against public enterprises?

Question 18

Discuss characteristics and examples of economic democracy.
-What is a natural monopoly? Give examples of how policymakers deal with businesses that are natural monopolies.

Question 19

Formal political democracy means

A) all citizens can vote and speak their minds.
B) all citizens have an equal amount of political power.
C) all citizens with a significant amount of wealth are in control of the government.
D) the government is in the hands of the military.

Question 20

what is the difference between formal political democracy and effective political democracy?

A) in an effective political democracy, all citizens are able to vote and express their opinions.
B) in an effective political democracy, all citizens are able to participate on fairly equal terms.
C) in an effective political democracy, the country has all the mechanisms and forms of democracy in place.
D) in an effective political democracy, certain groups with wealth or military control have disproportionate power.

Question 21

How high is voter turnout in American presidential elections?

A) In most elections, approximately 75% of eligible voters actually vote.
B) In most elections, approximately 50% of eligible voters actually vote.
C) In most elections, approximately 25% of eligible voters actually vote.
D) In most elections, approximately 95% of eligible voters actually vote.

Question 22

What does the term, "economic democracy," mean?

A) in economic democracy, goods and services are determined by vote.
B) in an economic democracy, all people are able to participate in and govern the economy.
C) in an economic democracy, a country is able to afford all the mechanisms and forms of democracy.
D) in an economic democracy, the wealthy rule both the economy and the political process.

Question 23

An economic enterprise governed by all member/owners equally rather than by in proportion to the amount of stock held is called

A) a partnership
B) a corporation
C) a cooperative
D) a firm

Question 24

An economic enterprise owned by the government is called

A) a public enterprise.
B) a private enterprise.
C) a corporate enterprise.
D) a utility.

Question 25

An economic enterprise owned by stockholders is called

A) a cooperative
B) a corporation
C) a public partnership.
D) a proprietorship.

Question 26

What are the two rules that govern consumer cooperatives formed to buy electricity?

A) they must be democratic, and they must pay taxes on all profits.
B) They must be profitable, and return a dividend to their investors.
C) They must be democratic and nonprofit.
D) They must submit any revenue in excess costs to the government, and submit annual reports to investors.

Question 27

What is one of the most important limits on effective democracy in the United States?

A) the lack of formal democratic institutions.
B) the lack of interest in political elections by the mainstream media.
C) the disproportionate influence of wealthy individuals and corporations.
D) strong voter interest and knowledge of relevant political issues.

Question 28

What problem reduces the degree of completeness and effectiveness of American democracy?

A) democracy exists in the social sphere but not in the political sphere
B) democracy exists in the economic sphere but not in the social sphere.
C) democracy exists only the economic sphere but not in the political sphere.
D) democracy exists in the political sphere but not in the economic sphere.

Question 29

National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) are funded primarily by

A) advertisers
B) subscribers and taxpayers.
C) employees
D) stockholders.

Question 30

The final remnants of feudalism in Europe were ended by

A) the English Revolution of 1648 and the French Revolution of 1789
B) the French Revolution of 1789 and the American Revolution of 1776.
C) the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the Spanish Revolution of 1936.
D) the English Revolution of 1648 and the American Revolution of 1776.

Question 31

Ancient Athens is cited as an example of

A) formal political democracy but not effective political democracy.
B) effective political democracy but not formal political democracy.
C) formal political democracy and effective political democracy.
D) neither formal political democracy nor effective political democracy.

Question 32

The largest cooperative in the U.S. is

A) National Public Radio
B) the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
C) the Tennessee Valley Authority
D) the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Question 33

The approximate number of people in the U.S. without health insurance is presently

A) 5 million people.
B) 25 million people.
C) 45 million people.
D) 90 million people.