Question 1

Manuel Noriega was never elected president of Panama, but he became its de facto ruler when he became head of the army. In doing so, he became powerful enough to demand the resignation of the elected president. What was Noriega's government if this is the only information on which to base your answer?

Accepted Answer

Noriega's government can be characterized as authoritarian because he exercised nearly complete control over the government and did not allow for meaningful political opposition or free and fair elections.

Question 2

Since 1917, all Puerto Ricans have been considered U.S. citizens, but they are not represented in Congress and cannot cast ballots in presidential elections. In this sense, they are

Accepted Answer

Puerto Ricans are not able to participate in presidential elections and do not have proper representation in Congress, therefore they are disenfranchised.

Question 3

Kim Jong-un, the current leader of North Korea, and his father Kim Jong-il, North Korea's former leader, have both restricted the basic human rights of their citizens. What type of government does North Korea have?

Accepted Answer

North Korea has a totalitarian government, which means that the government has complete control over every aspect of citizens' lives, including their rights and freedoms. The Kim dynasty has consistently enforced strict control over North Koreans' daily lives, limiting access to information, freedom of speech and religion, and basic necessities like food and healthcare. This level of control is the hallmark of a totalitarian government, and North Korea is one of the most extreme examples of this political system.

Question 4

The majority of appointed U.S. Treasury secretaries have been either former partners or managers of Goldman Sachs, which is a global investment management firm. Sociologists would argue that this overlap between private business and the federal government is an example of

Accepted Answer

The concept of the power elite suggests that a small group of individuals who hold significant economic, political, and social power dominate American society. The fact that many Treasury secretaries have been affiliated with Goldman Sachs, which is a major player in the financial industry, underscores the influence of corporate elites in shaping government policies and decision-making.

Question 5

The system of government that excludes participation and representation of ordinary citizens is called

Accepted Answer

Authoritarian government is characterized by a lack of participation and representation of ordinary citizens. The decision-making power is held by a small group of people who exercise total control over people's lives without any accountability.

Question 6

________ is the MOST extreme form of authoritarianism.

Accepted Answer

Totalitarianism is the most extreme form of authoritarianism as it seeks complete control over all aspects of society, including individuals' thoughts and beliefs. In a totalitarian state, the government has total control over the economy, media, education, and all other institutions. Citizens have no rights or freedoms and are often subjected to propaganda and manipulation. Totalitarian states are characterized by strict censorship, secret police, and widespread use of terror to maintain control.

Question 7

In 1970, Salvador Allende became the president of Chile through open elections. What did the United States help end in Chile when it supported a military coup, the assassination of Allende, and the subsequent dictatorship?

Accepted Answer

The United States helped end democracy in Chile by supporting a military coup, the assassination of Allende, and the subsequent dictatorship. Allende had been democratically elected, and the military coup installed a dictatorship that suppressed civil liberties and human rights.

Question 8

Robert is walking down the street late at night when a man in a ski mask suddenly sticks a gun in his face and takes his wallet. Sociologists would say that Robert's mugger had ________ but not ________.

Accepted Answer

The mugger had power, the ability to force Robert to comply with his demands, but not authority, which is power that is recognized as legitimate by those it is exercised over.

Question 9

Abdullah II of Jordan succeeded his father, Hussein bin Talal, as ruler of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1999. This makes his government a

Accepted Answer

Abdullah II of Jordan succeeded his father, making him a monarch and his government a monarchy.

Question 10

What are the methods and tactics of managing and influencing government called?

Accepted Answer

The methods and tactics of managing and influencing government are called politics. Power, totalitarianism, and fascism are more specific forms of government and do not encompass the entire realm of managing and influencing government.

Question 11

The power elite consists of ________ of the American population, according to a recent study.

Accepted Answer

According to a recent study by political scientists Martin Gilens and Benjamin I. Page, the power elite consists of considerably less than 1 percent of the American population. They define this group as "a small group of individuals who occupy the top positions in the largest corporations, banks, law firms, and other key economic and political institutions."

Question 12

Robert Dahl developed ________ to argue that corporations, political parties, professional organizations, and ethnic and religious groups provide checks and balances for each other so that no one group has too much power.

Accepted Answer

Robert Dahl developed the pluralist model to argue that various groups in society, such as corporations, political parties, professional organizations, and ethnic and religious groups, provide checks and balances for each other so that no one group has too much power. Therefore, the pluralist model emphasizes the importance of a diverse and competitive society for a functioning democracy.

Question 13

Politics, education, and religion are often discussed together in sociology because

Accepted Answer

Political decisions often impact education (such as policies on funding and curriculum), and religious beliefs can influence both education and politics (such as beliefs about evolution or abortion). Additionally, all three are prominent institutions in society with the potential to shape individuals' values, beliefs, and behaviors. Therefore, they are often studied together in sociology.

Question 14

What are organizations formed with the purpose of raising and spending money in order to influence elected officials called?

Accepted Answer

Special interest groups are organizations that are formed with the purpose of raising and spending money in order to influence elected officials. These groups focus on specific issues or industries and work to shape public policy and legislation in their favor. Examples include the National Rifle Association (NRA), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the Sierra Club.

Question 15

According to C. Wright Mills, a small and unified group of people occupy the highest positions of the major economic, political, and military institutions and exercise tremendous influence in American social life. What does he call this group?

Accepted Answer

Mills refers to this group as the power elite, which consists of members from the economic, political, and military sectors who hold immense power and influence over American society.

Question 16

What is the term for the legitimate right to wield power?

Accepted Answer

The term for the legitimate right to wield power is authority. Governments and states are entities that possess authority, while politics refers to the activities and processes associated with governing and decision-making.

Question 17

What are systems and structures within society that shape the activities of groups and individuals called?

Accepted Answer

Social institutions refer to systems and structures within society that shape the activities of groups and individuals. These include education, government, religion, family, economy, and healthcare, among others. Social controls (A) refer to the mechanisms used by society to maintain conformity to norms and rules, while social norms (C) are the unwritten rules and expectations that guide behavior in society. Pluralistic situations (D) refer to when there are multiple beliefs and values present in a society.

Question 18

Which of the following techniques is used to disenfranchise part of the American population today?

Accepted Answer

Denying people who have been convicted of felonies the right to vote for the rest of their lives is a technique currently used to disenfranchise a portion of the American population. This practice disproportionately affects people of color and perpetuates systemic racism. The other options listed (requiring polling places, poll taxes, and literacy tests) were used in the past to disenfranchise people, but are no longer legal.

Question 19

What do schools, churches, and governments all have in common?

Accepted Answer

Schools, churches, and governments are all examples of social institutions, which are organized patterns of beliefs and behaviors centered around basic social needs such as education, spiritual fulfillment, and governance.

Question 20

________ occurs when a government bars an individual temporarily or permanently from voting.

Accepted Answer

Disenfranchisement refers to the act of being barred from voting either temporarily or permanently. Suffrage denotes the right to vote in public elections, while pluralism refers to the coexistence and acceptance of differing opinions and beliefs in society. Voting conviction is not a commonly used term and is not related to the definition given.

Quiz 10: Social Institutions: Politics, Education, and Religion