Deck 1: The Irony of Democracy

Question 1

Elites in America are disproportionately from which of the following groups?

A) The educated
B) The poor
C) Liberals
D) Women

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Openness of the elite system to the upwardly mobile is necessary

A) to promote social stability.
B) to divert potentially revolutionary leaders.
C) maintain the stability of the elite system itself.
D) All of the above are true.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

___________ undermines popular support for and threatens the legitimacy of the system.

A) Rule by the few
B) Elites acting as protectors of minorities
C) Elites acting on their own narrow self-interest
D) Elites emphasizing long-term concerns

Answer 3

C

Question 4

"Circulation of elites" is characterized by which of the following?

A) The slow and continuous assimilation of new elites into the system
B) The promotion of change in system values
C) Reaching out by elites to new groups in society
D) All of the above are true.

Question 5

Elite power rests in some measure on

A) the control of economic resources.
B) the tight control of the mass media.
C) the ability to achieve goals, regardless of the impact on the masses.
D) the oppression of the masses.

Question 6

Elite theory, or elitism, is an approach to describing society focusing on

A) a normative endorsement of elite rule.
B) an automatic dismissal of elite behavior.
C) elite conspiracies to oppress and exploit the masses.
D) the few with power-their values, their behavior, and their demographics.

Question 7

In any organization, there will always be

A) the few who rule and the many who protest.
B) numerous competing elites.
C) an elite.
D) corruption that comes with power.

Question 8

Elites will act to reform problems within the system

A) in an attempt to generate greater profit.
B) in order to restore public confidence in the system.
C) as a means to punish competing elites.
D) None of these choices are correct; elites don't ever seek to reform.

Question 9

The advantages of democracy for individual citizens includes

A) promotion of self-reliance.
B) the development of intelligence.
C) allowing for individual dignity.
D) all of the above.

Question 10

Valuable resources such as wealth, status, and celebrity are granted or withheld as the exercise of

A) media control.
B) elitism.
C) power.
D) mass repression.

Question 11

Which is not a consensus value in American democracy?

A) Private property
B) Limited government
C) Equality of outcome
D) Individual liberty

Question 12

What is the "iron law of oligarchy"?

A) The notion that in any organization, power is in the hands of the few
B) The idea that elites should rule society because they are better able to do so
C) The philosophy that masses should obey because they are stupid and lazy
D) The theory that elites get their power from manufacturing

Question 13

Elites are the few who have power; the masses are the many that do not. Power is deciding who gets what, when, and how. Power is _______ in the decisions that shape our lives.

A) ceremonial participation
B) electoral participation
C) universal participation
D) meaningful participation

Question 14

The Founders of the United States believed that direct democracy and "unrestrained" majorities would result in

A) the abuse of minorities.
B) attacks on unpopular or despised individuals and groups.
C) threats to individual liberty.
D) all of the above.

Question 15

What is the "irony of democracy"?

A) It's called democracy but it's really only a few that are in power.
B) Democracy requires the masses overthrowing the elites.
C) Democracy depends on elites governing wisely.
D) There is no such thing as democracy.

Question 16

In elite theory, masses are seen as

A) passive.
B) apathetic.
C) ill-informed.
D) All of the above are true.

Question 17

___________ guarantees every person liberty and the right to property.

A) Pluralism
B) Elite theory
C) Democracy
D) "Natural law"

Question 18

In the United States, the masses are

A) normally apathetic and ill-informed about politics and public policy.
B) exhibit a surprisingly strong and universal commitment to democratic values.
C) better informed than the elites.
D) better educated than the elites.

Question 19

Elite theory is best associated with which of the following political science theorist?

A) Gaetano Mosca
B) John Locke
C) Thomas Jefferson
D) Thomas Hobbes

Question 20

The underlying value in almost any modern understanding of democracy is

A) elite rule.
B) mass activism.
C) individual dignity.
D) equality of outcome.

Question 21

What is "elite distemper"?

A) Elite repression of mass activism
B) Elites acting in a narrow, self-serving manner
C) Elites playing favorites among interest groups
D) Elites catching sicknesses from dogs

Question 22

Mass-oriented leaders who express hostility toward the established order

A) are called demagogues.
B) are welcomed into the U.S. elite system.
C) are generally not successful in generating mass support.
D) often condemn the use of violence and mass repression.

Question 23

Elite theory is best characterized as

A) a promotion of the idea that an elite should rule.
B) an apology for elite rule.
C) an attack on the ignorant masses.
D) an explanation of how democracy works.

Question 24

Which of the following best describes pluralism?

A) A system where many groups compete and bargain to determine public policy
B) A system where many groups work together to promote mutual interests
C) A system that helps elites manipulate the masses
D) Simply another term for democracy

Question 25

Pluralism describes the principle direction of political influence as being

A) from the elites to the masses.
B) between interest groups.
C) from the masses through interest groups to the elites.
D) between elites.

Question 26

Pluralism characterizes elites as devoted to

A) group interests.
B) themselves and their own self-interest.
C) the accumulation of power.
D) maintaining the government and the current political system.

Question 27

Which of the following is not a threat to democracy?

A) Elite misdeeds
B) Elite repression of the masses
C) Mass activism
D) Mass political participation

Question 28

Frequently, mass activism degenerates into mob scenes in which a small number feel that the rights of others do not matter as much as their own emotional views. Once a peaceful protest turns ugly, it

A) embodies the very heart of democracy.
B) is the natural display of contention between pluralism and the elite theories.
C) chills democratic freedom as peaceful protestors become scared off by aggressive rioters.
D) demonstrates the importance of the elites in democracy.

Question 29

Demagogues will not use ____________  to appeal to the masses.

A) racial hatred
B) peaceful cooperation
C) class antagonism
D) anti-intellectualism

Question 30

The relative autonomy of elites means

A) elites agree on all matters in U.S. policy.
B) that each segment of the elite is relatively independent of the others and is able to pursue its own interests.
C) elites are entirely autonomous from the masses.
D) elites can disagree on foreign policy but never on immigration policy.

Question 31

According to the Elites Theory, what are the three recognized threats to American democracy?

A) Mass unrest, low voter turnout, and poverty
B) Political correctness, poverty and TV pundits
C) Elite distemper, healthcare costs, and limits on freedom of expression
D) Elite distemper, mass unrest, and elite repression

Question 32

Mass activism inspires elite repression because mass political movements often

A) give rise to hatred and violates the system's democratic values.
B) calm fears and return the system to balance.
C) encourage tolerance of unpopular beliefs and practices.
D) give rise to unity, as demonstrated by the United States after the 9/11 attacks.

Question 33

Elitism emphasizes __________ characteristics of leaders, whereas pluralism emphasizes __________.

A) diversity; shared characteristics of leaders
B) the education and socioeconomic ; the altruistic nature of leaders
C) the shared; diversity among leaders
D) diversity; consensus among leaders

Question 34

In a democracy, elites usually engage in repression of the masses for what purpose?

A) For the pleasure of acquiring power over the masses and subjecting them to repressive measures
B) To preserve democratic values
C) To preserve their power
D) In an attempt to sow terror in the population, thereby ensuring obedience

Question 35

The number of U. S. adults that believe the nation would be better off if elites followed mass views

A) is greatly divided by gender, race, and ethnicity.
B) is quite close across gender and race lines.
C) is close across gender and race lines but vary by ethnicity.
D) shows gender matters a great deal but race does not.

Question 36

The predominant model for the United States is

A) the unitary model.
B) the nationalism model.
C) the ruling elite model
D) the plural elite model.

Question 37

Which best characterizes the pluralist view of leadership elites?

A) They are diverse in background, ideology, and viewpoints.
B) They are essentially self-interested.
C) They are largely controlled by other elites.
D) They are primarily older, wealthy white males.

Question 38

Which is the source of public policy decisions in elitism?

A) Elite interaction
B) Interests by large institutions
C) Elite self-interest
D) Mass demands

Question 39

Masses are dangerously vulnerable to appeals of

A) intolerance.
B) racial hatred.
C) class antagonisms.
D) all of the above.

Question 40

Demagogues are

A) mass-oriented leaders who express hostility toward the established order.
B) right-wing counterelites who talk of "The will of the people."
C) left-wing radicals who talk of "Power to the people."
D) all of the above.

Question 41

The plural elite model views _________________as more widely shared among leadership groups representing different segments of society.

Question 42

____________________ is the ability to influence people and events by granting or withholding valuable resources.

Question 43

____________________ is the approach to politics that sees society as being divided up into groups with competing demands.

Question 44

Elite behavior can be either self-interested or ____________________.

Question 45

In elite theory, power flows in a ____________________ direction.

Question 46

The assimilation of new members into the elite helps the system siphon off revolutionaries.

Question 47

The phrase "power to the people" would be associated with a left-wing ____________________.

Question 48

It is really the power and autonomy of nongovernmental elites that distinguishes the elite structure of democratic nations from those of totalitarian states who lack_________________.

Question 49

Short-sighted and self-interested behavior that undermines popular support for the political system can be called elite________________________.

Question 50

The term for multiple elites that compete and are largely independent of each other is ____________________.

Question 51

Democracy as consent of the governed refers to ____________________ government.

Question 52

Political correctness censorship codes at universities are an example of ____________________.

Question 53

Referenda, initiatives, and recall are examples of ____________________ democracy.

Question 54

The idea that elites must govern wisely if government by the people is to survive is known as ____________________.

Question 55

The realization that the system may become endangered is the only real check on ____________________.

Question 56

In an initiative a specified number or percentage of voters, through the use of a petition, may have a proposed measure placed on the ballot. In a referendum, the electorate must approve decisions of the _______________before these become law.

Question 57

John Locke's principle of natural law includes the rights to life, liberty, and ____________________.

Question 58

The concept of individuals being able to develop their own social, economic, and political capabilities is____________________.

Question 59

The idea that mass welfare rests with a few and not the many is called ____________________.

Question 60

The relative autonomy of elites means that each segment of the elites may be ___________________of the other in many matters and issues.

Question 61

Elite distemper results when the elites all too frequently put narrow interests ahead of broader, shared values.

Question 62

Representative government is based on consent of the governed.

Question 63

The term "circulation of elites" refers to elites moving from one position of power to another.

Question 64

Democratic procedure calls for majority rule with minority rights.

Question 65

Elitism sees the main division of society as being between the leaders of different groups.

Question 66

Elitism holds that the elite are more likely to manipulate each other than the masses.

Question 67

Elites are generally more willing than the masses to show tolerance to despised or obnoxious groups or individuals.

Question 68

In pluralism, people participate in politics through interest group affiliation.

Question 69

Pluralism emphasizes shared characteristics and compromise among elite leaders.

Question 70

Mass activism inspires elite repression.

Question 71

Wealth is always a direct measure of power.

Question 72

Elites are typically representatives of the people.

Question 73

Appeals to mass extremism may include the idea that working in a democratic system is senseless or immoral.

Question 74

Elites disagree about the ends of the political system.

Question 75

Elitism holds that mass membership rarely exercises power over elite decision making.

Question 76

Pluralism focuses on interest groups and their interactions with government.

Question 77

In pluralism, no single elite dominates.

Question 78

Once a peaceful protest turns violent it becomes anti-democratic.

Question 79

Originally, democratic equality came out of the Biblical idea of humans created in the image of the divine.

Question 80

Direct democracy is unfeasible because there are too many people to make it at all practical.