Deck 2: Majoritarian or Pluralist Democracy

Question 1

Whereas majority rule is defined as decision making by 50 percent plus one person,_________ is defined as decision making by most participants.

A)rule by the people
B)acquiescence
C)political equality
D)universal participation
E)plurality rule

Answer 1

E

Question 2

A politician who appeals to and often deceives the masses by manipulating their emotions and prejudices is a(n)

A)politico.
B)delegate.
C)oligarch.
D)legacy.
E)demagogue.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

A country abiding by the principle "one man,one vote" is practicing

A)representative democracy.
B)political equality.
C)equal suffrage.
D)substantive democracy.
E)a "free and fair" election system.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

New England town meetings are an example of

A)substantive democracy.
B)oligarchies.
C)representative democracy.
D)civil democracy.
E)participatory democracy.

Question 5

_________ theory prescribes that a group should decide to do what the majority of its participant wants to do.​

A)​Democratic
B)​Pluralist
C)Procedural
D)​Doctrinal
E)​​Substantive

Question 6

The idea that all adults within the boundaries of a political community should be allowed to vote is known as

A)universal participation.
B)political equality.
C)majority rule.
D)plurality rule.
E)suffrage.

Question 7

The Greek word kratos,one of the roots of the word democracy,means

A)power.
B)authority.
C)common man.
D)rule.
E)form.

Question 8

The ancient Greeks classified governments as autocracies,oligarchies,or democracies based on

A)the fundamental purposes for which the government was instituted.
B)the extent of government power.
C)the types of elected officeholders.
D)the kinds of decisions the government was responsible for.
E)the number of citizens involved in governing.

Question 9

All of the following are principles of procedural democracy except

A)government responsiveness to public opinion.
B)minority rights.
C)universal participation.
D)majority rule.
E)political equality.

Question 10

A form of government that puts power in the hands of an elite is a(n)​

A)​oligarchy.
B)​democracy.
C)​autocracy.
D)​dictatorship.
E)​theocracy.

Question 11

The concept of democracy was initially defined centuries ago in ancient

A)Syria.
B)Egypt.
C)Greece.
D)Rome.
E)India.

Question 12

Which of the following is not a question asked by procedural democratic theory?

A)Who should participate in decision making?
B)What democratic outcomes violate the rights of minorities?
C)How much should each participant's vote count?
D)How many votes are needed to reach a decision?
E)What democratic outcomes violate the rights of minorities? and, How many votes are needed to reach a decision?

Question 13

The procedural view of democracy is most concerned with

A)the level of popular participation in decision making.
B)the equality of government decisions.
C)minority protections.
D)the impact of government decisions.
E)how government decisions are made.

Question 14

The Greek word demos,which is the root of the term democracy,means

A)common people.
B)power.
C)participation.
D)foundation or base.
E)order.

Question 15

Members of which of the following groups would be most likely to support immigration reform ​that includes a path to citizenship?

A)​Tea Party
B)​Democrats
C)​Chamber of Commerce
D)​Republicans
E)​Heritage Foundation

Question 16

​In a system of participatory democracy,

A)neighborhoods are the basic units of political engagement.
B)​representatives are required to interact regularly with citizens.
C)​citizens govern themselves, without electing representatives.
D)​the national government always defers to state governments.
E)​state governments always defer to the national government.

Question 17

Portland's incorporation of neighborhood associations into its municipal government is an example of​

A)​majoritarianism.
B)​pluralism.
C)​political equality.
D)​participatory democracy.
E)​universal participation

Question 18

Participatory democracy today

A)is rare in the United States but commonly practiced in Europe.
B)is common in the United States and in other democracies.
C)is common in the United States but rare in other democracies.
D)is common in the United States and Europe, but rare in other democracies.
E)is rare in the United States and in other democracies.

Question 19

The concept that everyone in a democracy should participate in governmental decision making is ​

A)​majoritarianism.
B)​plurality rule.
C)​political equality.
D)​"one person, one vote."
E)​universal participation.

Question 20

An autocracy is a political system ruled by

A)a few.
B)one individual.
C)the military.
D)a majority.
E)a few powerful, wealthy individuals.

Question 21

Suppose a majority of Congress passes a law to permit organized prayer in public schools and the Supreme Court declares that the Constitution forbids this rule; this would be an example of

A)procedural democracy.
B)substantive democracy.
C)the majoritarian model.
D)participatory democracy.
E)constitutional democracy.

Question 22

In most democracies other than the United States,there is __________ support for the view that jobs and incomes for the unemployed are a right.​

A)​much less
B)​a little less
C)​about equal
D)​a little more
E)​much more

Question 23

_________ theorists have a narrower view of the scope of social and economic rights that should be guaranteed by a ​democratic government than _________ theorists.

A)​Liberal, conservative
B)Substantive, procedural
C)​Conservative, liberal
D)​​Majoritarian, pluralist
E)​Procedural, substantive

Question 24

The basic standard of substantive democracy is that government must guarantee

A)economic rights.
B)civil rights and liberties.
C)social equality.
D)economic rights, civil rights and liberties, and social equality.
E)None of these choices is true.

Question 25

Civil libertarians commonly assert that "We don't put our fundamental rights,like freedom of speech,up for a vote!" This statement reflects the __________ view of democracy​

A)​bureaucratic.
B)​elitist.
C)​procedural.
D)​majoritarian.
E)​substantive.

Question 26

An important problem with the procedural view of democracy is that it can clash with​

A)​minority rights.
B)​the majoritarian view.
C)​voting rights.
D)​political parties.
E)​democratic government.

Question 27

According to the ____________ view of democracy,anti-gay marriage laws are democratic.​

A)substantive
B)​authoritarian
C)​oligarchic
D)​Greek
E)procedural

Question 28

The Bill of Rights is at the core of our

A)procedural theories of democracy.
B)majoritarian theories.
C)participatory theories of democracy.
D)substantive theories of democracy.
E)representative theories of democracy.

Question 29

The principle of responsiveness requires that legislators

A)follow the general contours of public opinion.
B)cast their ballots on the basis of what the people think back home.
C)pay especial attention to groups that are highly organized.
D)support public opinion in all matters related to electoral politics.
E)consider the views of their fellow legislators more than the views of constituents.

Question 30

​Which of the following can be considered an institutional mechanism in politics?

A)​Interest groups
B)​Political parties
C)​Legislatures
D)​Elections
E)​All of these choices may be considered institutional mechanisms in politics.

Question 31

Why do most democracies give power to representatives rather than directly to citizens?

A)Bringing large numbers of citizens together for discussions and votes is difficult.
B)Decisions may require specialized knowledge not possessed by the average citizen.
C)Discussion of political issues consumes more time than most people are willing to spend.
D)Bringing large numbers of citizens together for discussions and votes is difficult, decisions may require specialized knowledge not possessed by the average citizen, and discussion of political issues consumes more time than most people are willing to spend.
E)None of these choices is true.

Question 32

__________ allows a person to acquire information and documents online and also provides a medium to register opinions and complaints to government officials.

A)E-government
B)The Federal Communications Commission
C)The Telecommunications Act
D)The Secretary of State
E)Fox News

Question 33

In 2005,voters in Texas voted by over a 60% margin to ban gay marriage.​ Arguing that gay marriage should be allowed in Texas anyway implies a reliance on the _____________ view of democracy.

A)​populist.
B)​procedural.
C)​substantive.
D)​majoritarian.
E)​elite.

Question 34

​According to procedural theory,the government should do

A)whatever the most insistent interest group wants.
B)​​whatever the majority wants.
C)​whatever they judge to be right.
D)​whatever the most influential elites want.
E)​whatever they think the framers of the constitution would have done.

Question 35

A popular election is the primary mechanism for democratic government in which model?

A)Substantive democracy
B)Procedural democracy
C)The majoritarian model
D)The pluralist model
E)The integrated model

Question 36

In August of 2010,a federal judge overturned a decision by the voters of California that had banned gay marriage.This judicial decision is an example of

A)majoritarian theory.
B)the interest group model.
C)elite theory.
D)substantive democracy.
E)None of these choices is true.

Question 37

Bible readings in public schools would violate ​a _________ principle,freedom of religion.

A)​democratic
B)​procedural
C)​doctrinal
D)​substantive
E)​pluralist

Question 38

Agreement among substantive theorists breaks down when the discussion moves from civil rights to

A)freedom of expression.
B)social rights.
C)religious rights.
D)economic rights.
E)social rights and economic rights.

Question 39

Americans tend to define democracy in terms of

A)democratic processes.
B)institutions and organizations.
C)social benefits.
D)political parties.
E)freedoms, rights, or liberties.

Question 40

One of the weaknesses of the procedural model of democracy is that

A)it does not provide clear criteria on which to judge whether a government is democratic.
B)its reliance on rules may lead to rigidity and inefficiency.
C)it neglects the standards of classic Greek democracy.
D)it permits policies that violate standards of substantive democracy.
E)too much attention is paid to protecting minority rights.

Question 41

Which of the following is not an assumption of the majoritarian model of democracy? Citizens

A)​are knowledgeable about government and politics.
B)want to participate in the political process​.
C)​are raised in families that encouraged active political participation.
D)make rational decisions in voting.​
E)​All of these choices are assumptions of the majoritarian model.

Question 42

Cohesive political parties with well-defined programs contribute to the

A)pluralist model of democracy.
B)majoritarian model of democracy.
C)republican theory of democracy.
D)elite theory of democracy.
E)substantive theory of democracy.

Question 43

Suppose that top government jobs for both political parties are filled only from an inner circle of top corporate leaders.This would be evidence for

A)elite theory.
B)substantive democracy.
C)pluralist theory.
D)the interest group model.
E)aristocracy.

Question 44

For some years our two congressional parties have been increasingly polarized,working less together to fashion compromise legislation.This is consistent with the _________ of democracy.

A)pluralist model
B)substantive theory
C)procedural theory
D)elite theory
E)majoritarian model

Question 45

Compared with majoritarian thought,the pluralist model of democracy shifts the focus of democratic decision making from __________ to _________.

A)organized groups; the mass electorate
B)representatives; voters
C)procedures; substance
D)substance; procedures
E)the mass electorate; organized groups

Question 46

Although public opinion does not fluctuate erratically,change can occur​

A)​as a result of a presidential state of the union address.
B)​when older voters change their minds collectively on an issue.
C)​when different generations with different experiences enter the electorate.
D)​when pollsters refine their questions to get the answers they are looking for.
E)​None of these choices is likely to have an impact on public opinion.

Question 47

​An election on a public policy issue is called a(n)

A)​initiative.
B)​referendum.
C)​primary.
D)​recall.
E)​procedure.

Question 48

In 2014,voters in Switzerland approved an initiative to​

A)​recognize civil rights at a national level.
B)​join the European Union.
C)​limit immigration.
D)​ban involvement in military conflicts.
E)​leave the European Union.

Question 49

A referendum is best described as a(n)

A)statement of legislative goals.
B)do-over of a previous election.
C)ballot without true competition for offices.
D)election on a policy issue.
E)decision that resolves a legal issue.

Question 50

A sign that pluralist democracy might not be working well in the United States is the

A)fact that the best represented sectors in Washington are business and professional groups.
B)declining number of interest groups in Washington.
C)decentralization of the American government.
D)increased representation for low income Americans.
E)generally low levels of political knowledge among Americans.

Question 51

Although they are instruments of majoritarian democracy,initiatives are often sponsored by

A)government officials.
B)interest groups.
C)members of the judiciary.
D)foreign multinational corporations.
E)small numbers of average citizens.

Question 52

A citizen's group gathers enough signatures on a petition to force a popular vote on a statewide lottery proposal.This proposal would represent a(n)

A)recall election.
B)referendum.
C)initiative.
D)popular law.
E)citizen's proposal.

Question 53

In 2011,the state of Ohio approved an initiative to

A)teach creationism in public schools.
B)increase the minimum wage.
C)restrict abortion.
D)create a school voucher program.
E)overturn a law that had weakened unions.

Question 54

​In America,when the wealthy and the rest of the population have differing policy goals

A)​the preference of the majority will most likely prevail.
B)​the preference of "progressive" interest groups normally prevails.
C)​there is no way to predict which side will win.
D)​the preference of the wealthy will most often prevail.
E)​Social scientists have not studied this question, so it is impossible to say which side will likely prevail.

Question 55

The idea that the most important government decisions are made by an identifiable and stable minority that shares certain characteristics -- particularly wealth and business connections -- is called

A)substantive democracy.
B)elite theory.
C)pluralist theory.
D)the interest group model.
E)aristocracy.

Question 56

​Based on polls testing how closely Americans follow news about politics,the text implies that policymakers should

A)​pay more attention to polls on policy questions.
B)​solicit more input from citizens before casting votes.
C)​institute public policy educational programs.
D)​place less credence in polls measuring public opinion on policy questions.
E)​pass legislation banning polls on public policy issues.

Question 57

When citizens circulate petitions to gather signatures to put a policy question on the ballot,it is called a(n)​

A)​initiative.
B)​referendum.
C)primary.
D)​recall.
E)​​procedure.

Question 58

An organized group that seeks to influence government policy is called a(n)

A)interest group.
B)pluralist group.
C)elite group.
D)oligarchy.
E)substantive group.

Question 59

What rules govern the use of referenda at the federal level?

A)They can only be used to propose constitutional amendments.
B)They require a two-thirds vote of all Americans.
C)They must be approved by a two-thirds vote of Congress.
D)They can only be used for a declaration of war.
E)No provisions exist for the use of referenda at the federal level.

Question 60

Studies on decision making concerning public policy issues suggest that much of the elite's power comes from the ability of elites to

A)win seats in Congress.
B)become governors of states.
C)finance candidates for president of the United States.
D)keep issues off the political agenda.
E)None of these choices is true.

Question 61

Explain how Greek philosophers classified different governments,and what they thought about democracy.

Question 62

Studies of the congressional agenda demonstrate that it is characterized by

A)an emphasis on legislation concerned with the poor.
B)an emphasis on legislation concerned with immigration.
C)an emphasis on legislation concerned with increasing taxes on the wealthy.
D)an emphasis on business-related legislation.
E)None of these choices is true.

Question 63

One primary challenge to democratization in Iraq after the overthrow of dictator Saddam Hussein is

A)the lack of a functioning oil economy.
B)religious conflict between Sunni and Shiite branches of Islam.
C)the continued crackdown on open protest of the government.
D)the resurgence of the Ba'ath Party as a democratic force.
E)the failure to establish a free and independent press.

Question 64

Summarize the findings of political scientists who have researched the validity of elite theory,and the response of elite theorists to such findings.

Question 65

Democratization is the

A)process of moving from procedural to substantive democracy.
B)process of institutionalizing the rules of procedural democracy and establishing substantive democratic policies.
C)act of electing leaders in a way that conforms to the criteria of substantive democracy.
D)process of moving from a demand to a market economy.
E)requirement that freedoms and rights be protected by written covenant.

Question 66

Discuss the relative strengths and weaknesses of the majoritarian and pluralist models of democracy.​

Question 67

According to the text,it is difficult for a country with a market economy to remain _________ in its internal politics.

A)democratic
B)responsive
C)decentralized
D)undemocratic
E)pluralistic

Question 68

Discuss procedural democracy and substantive democracy arguments for and against gay marriage legislation​ that has been enacted in several states.

Question 69

Identify and discuss some of the problems ​with participatory democracy,and ways to respond to those problems.

Question 70

Discuss why democratization can be difficult to achieve in different parts of the world,and why there is a strong relationship between economic prosperity and democracy.

Question 71

According to the text,does the United States better fit the pluralist model or the majoritarian model,and why?

Question 72

Explain the role that interest groups play in the pluralist democratic model.

Question 73

The text suggests that the United States fulfills the ________ model quite well.

A)authoritarian
B)majoritarian
C)totalitarian
D)pluralist
E)egalitarian

Question 74

Explain the difference between procedural democratic theory and substantive democratic theory.

Question 75

Identify three of the four principles of procedural democracy and discuss the difficulties with their implementation.​

Question 76

The principal drawback of the pluralist model is that it

A)​doesn't adequately take public opinion into account.
B)​has been used by authoritarians to repress their populations.
C)​favors groups who need help the least.
D)​gives "unfair" advantages to poor people.
E)​has been shown to be a poor method of representation.

Question 77

Whether a political system is "democratic" is chiefly defined by

A)its amount of participation.
B)its political equality and majority rule.
C)government responsiveness to public opinion.
D)its tolerance for freedom of speech and association.
E)It cannot be simply defined by any of the above.

Question 78

​According to the text,in the past few years,there has been ________ in the number of democracies around the world.

A)​a large decline
B)​a slight decline
C)​no real change
D)​a slight increase
E)​a large increase

Question 79

Explain the key difference between elite and pluralist theory.

Question 80

The text suggests that there are _________ forces that may be pushing authoritarian governments toward democratization.

A)religious
B)moral
C)philosophical
D)ethical
E)economic