Chapter 11

Power Elites

*C. Wright Mills composed of relatively small number of people who occupy top positions of control within economic, political, and military institutions of the country

community college

2 year school that provides gen. ads. for students to save money and transfer to a 4 year university

power

Weber- ability to get others to do one's bidding Sociologists- legitimate, non-coercive exercise of power

Political Action Committees

(PACs) organizations designed to raise money to support the interests of a select group/organization

Special Interest Groups

(pressure groups) organizations that raise money to influence elected officials and/or public opinion

school vouchers

allow parents in neighborhoods where public schools are inadequate to send their children to private school of their choice

profane

ordinary, mundane, everyday

distance learning

any educational course or program where teacher and students don't meet together - meet over internet

religion

any institutionalized system of shared beliefs and rituals that identify a relationship between sacred and profane

527 Committees

organizations that have no official connection to a candidate, but raise and spend funds like a campaign does- named after the section of the tax code that authorizes their existence

Education

central means in which a society transmits its knowledge, values, and expectations to members

Democracy

citizens share in directing activities of their government rather than being ruled by an autocratic individual/authoritarian group

politics

pertains especially to methods and tactics of managing a political entity such as a nation or state, as well as administration and control of its internal and external affairs

homeschooling

education of school-aged kids under their parents' supervision outside of a regular campus

government

formal, organized agency that exercises power and control in modern society

Monarchy

government by King/Queen, with succession of rulers kept within family *Tudors of England, Ming Dynasty of China, Romanovs of Russia 2 categories: Absolute- complete authority Constitutional- powers are defined by political charter/limited by parliament/other government body

opinion leaders

high-profile people who interpret political information for us

sacred

holy, divine, supernaturals

hidden curriculum

lessons students learn indirectly but that are an implicit part of them socialization in the school environment

social institution

macro level

individual

microlevel

liberation theology

movement within the catholic church to understand christianity from the perspective of the poor and oppressed, with a focus on fighting justice

authoritarianism

political system that denies ordinary citizens representation by and control over their own government *dictatorship- taliban, Augusto Pinochet in Chile 1973 *totalitarianism-(most extreme) can do basically anything to follow citizens lives -total control *Kim Jong Il, North Korea

pluralism

power is held by a variety of organizations and institutions with its own resources and interests (corporations, political parties, professional organizations, ethnic and religious groups)

rituals

practices based on those beliefs

beliefs

propositions and ideas held on basis of faith

charter schools

public schools run by private entities to give parents greater control over their children's education

monotheistic religions

religions that worship a define figure (Judaism, Christianity, Islam)

secular

separating church and state (issue in society)

disenfranchised

stripped of voting rights either temporarily or permanently

tracking

students are identified as gifted or placed into remedial education *determines classes we take

early college high schools

students earn a high school diploma and 2 years of credit towards a bachelor's degree

Social Institutions

systems and structures that organize our group life, such as school, religion, and the government

Evangelical

term describing conservative Christians who emphasize converting others to their faith

unchurched

term describing those who consider themselves spiritual but not religious and who often adopt aspects of various religious traditions

religiosity

the consistent and regular practice of religious beliefs

fundamentalism

way of understanding and interpreting sacred texts that can be part of any denomination or sect