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