SOC101 - Module 6 - Week 1 - Government and Politics

________ is a form of government that strives to provide all citizens with an equal voice, or vote, in determining state policy, regardless of their level of socioeconomic status. Another important fundamental part of this government is the establishment and governance of a just and comprehensive constitution that delineates the roles and responsibilities of leaders and citizens alike.

A democracy

Power in ________ is held by a single person, or a very small group, that wields complete and absolute authority over a government and population.

A dictatorship

Which is not a characteristic of a democracy?

A king or queen holds the majority of governmental control.

According to Karl Marx, struggles between groups are necessary for the development of

A more egalitarian society

Describe the varying theoretical Perspectives on Government and Power

According to functionalism, the government has four main purposes: planning and directing society, meeting social needs, maintaining law and order, and managing international relations. According to functionalism, all aspects of society serve a purpose. Functionalists view government and politics as a way to enforce norms and regulate conflict. Functionalists see active social change, such as the sit-in on Wall Street, as undesirable because it forces change and, as a result, undesirable things that might have to be compensated for. Functionalists seek consensus and order in society. Dysfunction creates social problems that lead to social change. For instance, functionalists would see monetary political contributions as a way of keeping people connected to the democratic process. This would be in opposition to a conflict theorist who would see this financial contribution as a way for the rich to perpetuate their own wealth.Conflict theory focuses on the social inequalities and power difference within a group, analyzing society through this lens. Philosopher and social scientist Karl Marx was a seminal force in developing the conflict theory perspective; he viewed social structure, rather than individual personality characteristics, as the cause of many social problems, such as poverty and crime. Marx believed that conflict between groups struggling to either attain wealth and power or keep the wealth and power they had was inevitable in a capitalist society, and conflict was the only way for the underprivileged to eventually gain some measure of equality. C. Wright Mills (1956) elaborated on some of Marx's concepts, coining the phrase power elite to describe what he saw as the small group of powerful people who control much of a society. Mills believed the power elite use government to develop social policies that allow them to keep their wealth. Contemporary theorist G. William Domhoff (2011) elaborates on ways in which the power elite may be seen as a subculture whose members follow similar social patterns such as joining elite clubs, attending select schools, and vacationing at a handful of exclusive destinations.Other sociologists study government and power by relying on the framework of symbolic interactionism, which is grounded in the works of Max Weber and George H. Mead. Symbolic interactionism, as it pertains to government, focuses its attention on figures, emblems, or individuals that represent power and authority. Many diverse entities in larger society can be considered symbolic: trees, doves, wedding rings. Images that represent the power and authority of the United States include the White House, the eagle, and the American flag. The Seal of the President of the United States, along with the office in general, incites respect and reverence in many Americans. Symbolic interactionists are not interested in large structures such as the government. As micro-sociologists, they are more interested in the face-to-face aspects of politics. In reality, much of politics consists of face-to-face backroom meetings and lobbyist efforts. What the public often sees is the front porch of politics that is sanitized by the media through gatekeeping.

For years, ________ who were brave enough to vote were discouraged by discriminatory legislation, passed in many southern states, which required poll taxes and literacy tests of prospective voters.

African Americans

Which statement best explains the meaning of "one person, one vote"?

All people's votes should count equally.

In this form of government, members do not necessarily achieve their statuses based on ties to noble ancestry. Rather, they may ascend to positions of power because of military might, economic power, or similar circumstances.

An oligarchy

Which statement best expresses the difference between power and authority?

Authority is based on the perceived legitimacy of the individual in power.

________ were not allowed to vote at all until after the Civil War, and ________ gained the right to vote along with other women only with the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920.

Black men; black women

Which statement best expresses why the United States is not a true democracy?

Citizens elect representatives who vote on their behalf to make policy.

Define and differentiate between power and authority

Despite the differences between government systems in the Middle East and the United States, their governments play the same fundamental role: in some fashion, they exert control over the people they govern. The nature of that control—what we will define as power and authority—is an important feature of society. Sociologists have a distinctive approach to studying governmental power and authority that differs from the perspective of political scientists. For the most part, political scientists focus on studying how power is distributed in different types of political systems. They would observe, for example, that the United States' political system is divided into three distinct branches (legislative, executive, and judicial), and they would explore how public opinion affects political parties, elections, and the political process in general. Sociologists, however, tend to be more interested in the influences of governmental power on society and in how social conflicts arise from the distribution of power. Sociologists also examine how the use of power affects local, state, national, and global agendas, which in turn affect people differently based on status, class, and socioeconomic standing.The protesters in Tunisia and the civil rights protesters of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s day had influence apart from their position in a government. Their influence came, in part, from their ability to advocate for what many people held as important values. Government leaders might have this kind of influence as well, but they also have the advantage of wielding power associated with their position in the government. As this example indicates, there is more than one type of authority in a community. Authority refers to accepted power—that is, power that people agree to follow. People listen to authority figures because they feel that these individuals are worthy of respect. Generally speaking, people perceive the objectives and demands of an authority figure as reasonable and beneficial, or true. A citizen's interaction with a police officer is a good example of how people react to authority in everyday life. For instance, a person who sees the flashing red and blue lights of a police car in his rearview mirror usually pulls to the side of the road without hesitation. Such a driver most likely assumes that the police officer behind him serves as a legitimate source of authority and has the right to pull him over. As part of her official duties, the police officer then has the power to issue a speeding ticket if the driver was driving too fast. If the same officer, however, were to command the driver to follow her home and mow her lawn, the driver would likely protest that the officer does not have the authority to make such a request.

Which is not one of functionalism's four main purposes of government?

Equally distributing resources

Describe forms of government and explain politics in the United States

Even though people in the United States tend to be most aware of Great Britain's royals, many other nations also recognize kings, queens, princes, princesses, and other figures with official royal titles. The power held by these positions varies from one country to another. Strictly speaking, a monarchy is a government in which a single person (a monarch) rules until he or she dies or abdicates the throne. Usually, a monarch claims the rights to the title by way of hereditary succession or as a result of some sort of divine appointment or calling. As mentioned above, the monarchies of most modern nations are ceremonial remnants of tradition, and individuals who hold titles in such sovereignties are often aristocratic figureheads.The power in an oligarchy is held by a small, elite group. Unlike in a monarchy, members of an oligarchy do not necessarily achieve their statuses based on ties to noble ancestry. Rather, they may ascend to positions of power because of military might, economic power, or similar circumstances. The concept of oligarchy is somewhat elusive; rarely does a society openly define itself as an oligarchy. Generally, the word carries negative connotations and conjures notions of a corrupt group whose members make unfair policy decisions in order to maintain their privileged positions.Power in a dictatorship is held by a single person (or a very small group) that wields complete and absolute authority over a government and population. Like some absolute monarchies, dictatorships may be corrupt and seek to limit or even eradicate the liberties of the general population. Dictators use a variety of means to perpetuate their authority. Economic and military might, as well as intimidation and brutality are often foremost among their tactics; individuals are less likely to rebel when they are starving and fearful. Many dictators start out as military leaders and are conditioned to the use of violence against opposition. Some dictators also possess the personal appeal that Max Weber identified with a charismatic leader. Subjects of such a dictator may believe that the leader has special ability or authority and may be willing to submit to his or her authority. The late Kim Jong-Il, North Korean dictator, and his successor, Kim Jong-Un, exemplify this type of charismatic dictatorship. Some dictatorships do not align themselves with any particular belief system or ideology; the goal of this type of regime is usually limited to preserving the authority of the dictator. A totalitarian dictatorship is even more oppressive and attempts to control all aspects of its subjects' lives; including occupation, religious beliefs, and number of children permitted in each family. Citizens may be forced to publicly demonstrate their faith in the regime by participating in marches and demonstrations.A democracy is a form of government that strives to provide all citizens with an equal voice, or vote, in determining state policy, regardless of their level of socioeconomic status. Another important fundamental of the democratic state is the establishment and governance of a just and comprehensive constitution that delineates the roles and responsibilities of leaders and citizens alike. Democracies, in general, ensure certain basic rights for their citizens. First and foremost, citizens are free to organize political parties and hold elections. Leaders, once elected, must abide by the terms of the given nation's constitution and are limited in the powers they can exercise, as well as in the length of the duration of their terms. Most democratic societies also champion freedom of individual speech, the press, and assembly, and they prohibit unlawful imprisonment. Of course, even in a democratic society, the government constrains citizens' total freedom to act however they wish. A democratically elected government does this by passing laws and writing regulations that, at least ideally, reflect the will of the majority of its people.When describing a nation's politics, we should define the term. We may have associated the term with freedom, power, corruption, or rhetoric. Political science looks at politics as the interaction between citizens and their government. Sociology studies politics as a means to understand the underlying social norms and values of a group. A society's political structure and practices provide insight into the distribution of power and wealth, as well as larger philosophical and cultural beliefs. A cursory sociological analysis of U.S. politics might suggest that Americans' desire to promote equality and democracy on a theoretical level is at odds with the nation's real-life capitalist orientation. Lincoln's famous phrase "of the people, by the people, for the people" is at the heart of the U.S. system and sums up its most essential aspect: that citizens willingly and freely elect representatives they believe will look out for their best interests. Although many Americans take free elections for granted, it is a vital foundation of any democracy. When the U.S. government was formed, however, African Americans and women were denied the right to vote. Each of these groups struggled to secure the same suffrage rights as their white male counterparts, yet this history fails to inspire some Americans to show up at the polls and cast their ballots. Problems with the democratic process, including limited voter turnout, require us to more closely examine complex social issues that influence political participation.The third branch of the U.S. government is the judicial system, which consists of local, state, and federal courts. The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States, and it has the final say on decisions about the constitutionality of laws that citizens challenge. As noted earlier, some rulings have a direct impact on the political system, such as recent decisions about voter identification and campaign financing. Other Supreme Court decisions affect different aspects of society, and they are useful for sociological study because they help us understand cultural changes. One example is a recent and highly controversial case that dealt with the religious opposition of Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. to providing employees with specific kinds of insurance mandated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Another example is same-sex marriage cases, which were expected to be heard by the Court; however, the Court denied review of these cases in the fall of 2014. For now, the rulings of federal district courts stand, and states can continue to have differing outcomes on same-sex marriage for their citizens.

Which statement best expresses why there have been so few charismatic female leaders throughout history?

Few women have had the opportunity to hold leadership roles over the courseof history.

Which of the following paradigms would consider movements such as Occupy Wall Street undesirable and unnecessarily forcing social change?

Functionalism

Which sociologist is not associated with conflict theory?

George H. Mead

Which concept corresponds best to functionalism?

Interdependence

________ believed that the only way for the underprivileged to eventually gain some measure of equality would be to continue to struggle against one another.

Karl Marx

Which of the following present and former government leaders is generally considered a dictator?

Kim Jong-Un

Which of the following types of authority does not reside primarily in a leader?

Legal-rational

Which president signed the Voting Rights Act?

Lyndon Johnson

The power in ________ is held by a small, elite group.

Oligarchy

Which nation is an absolute monarchy?

Oman

________ is an entity or individual's ability to control or direct others, while ________ is influence that is predicated on perceived legitimacy. You were incorrect.

Power; authority

Which current world figure has the least amount of political power?

Queen Elizabeth II

In which type of authority, is power vested in a particular rationale, system, or ideology and not necessarily in the person who implements the specifics of that doctrine?

Rational-legal authority

The U.S. Supreme Court case _________________ led to the revision of voting districts to account for differences in population density.

Reynolds v. Sims

According to ________, the struggles between and within groups have historically been spurred by the drive to protect or gain territory and wealth, and the need to preserve liberty and autonomy.

Social conflict theorists

Unfortunately, in June 2013 the Supreme Court repealed several important aspects of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, ruling that

Southern states no longer need the strict scrutiny that was once required to prohibit racial discrimination in voting practices in the South

According to ________, the government has four main purposes: planning and directing society, meeting social needs, maintaining law and order, and managing international relations. According to this theory, all aspects of society serve a purpose.

Structural functional theorists

________ are not interested in large structures such as the government but as micro-sociologists, they are more interested in the face-to-face aspects of politics, or at least the kind of politics that is sanitized by the media through gatekeeping.

Symbolic interactionist theorists

The Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street protests, and the Tea Party movement have the following in common:

They are examples of conflict theory in action.

In the U.S. Senate, it is customary to assign each senator a seniority ranking based on years of government service and the population of the state he or she represents. A top ranking gives the senator priority for assignments to office space, committee chair positions, and seating on the senate floor. What type of authority does this example best illustrate?

Traditional

Based on this work, Weber developed a classification system for authority. His three types of authority were defined as

Traditional authority, charismatic authority, and legal-rational authority

Which factor does not influence voting practices?

Voting booths

Some nations called ________ recognize kings, queens, princes, princesses, and other figures with official royal titles. The power held by these positions varies from one country to another.

a monarchy

Many constitutional monarchies started out as:

absolute monarchies

People listen to ________ figures because they feel that these individuals are worthy of respect, and generally speaking, people perceive the objectives and demands of an such a figure as reasonable and beneficial, or true.

authority

________ refers to accepted influence, in other words, influence that people agree to follow.

authority

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used his public speaking abilities and magnetism to inspire African Americans to stand up against injustice in an extremely hostile environment. He is an example of a(n) __________ leader.

charismatic

Followers accept the power of ________ because they are drawn to the leader's personal qualities. The appeal of such a leader can be extraordinary, and can inspire followers to make unusual sacrifices or to persevere in the midst of great hardship and persecution.

charismatic authority

Karl Marx believed social structures evolve through:

conflict

Sociologist G. William Domhoff's Who Rules America? asserts that wealth is often necessary to exert the most influence over social and political systems. This is a ____ perspective.

conflict theory

absolute monarchies:governments wherein a monarch has absolute or unmitigated power anarchy:the absence of any organized government constitutional monarchies:national governments that recognize monarchs but require these figures to abide by the laws of a greater constitution democracy:a form of government that provides all citizens with an equal voice or vote in determining state policy dictatorship:a form of government in which a single person (or a very small group) wields complete and absolute authority over a government or populace after the dictator rises to power, usually through economic or military might monarchy:a form of government in which a single person (a monarch) rules until that individual dies or abdicates the throne oligarchy:a form of government in which power is held by a small, elite group representative democracy:a government wherein citizens elect officials to represent their interests totalitarian dictatorship:an extremely oppressive form of dictatorship in which most aspects of citizens' lives are controlled by the leader

glossary

authority:power that people accept because it comes from a source that is perceived as legitimate charismatic authority:power legitimized on the basis of a leader's exceptional personal qualities patrimonialism:a type of authority wherein military and administrative factions enforce the power of the master rational-legal authority:power that is legitimized by rules, regulations, and laws traditional authority:power legitimized on the basis of long-standing customs

glossary

one person, one vote:a concept holding that each person's vote should be counted equally politics:a means of studying a nation's or group's underlying social norms as values as evidenced through its political structure and practices

glossary

power elite:a small group of powerful people who control much of a society

glossary

power: the ability to exercise one's will over others

glossary

In the past, Southern states discouraged African Americans from voting by requiring them to take a _____________________ test.

literacy

In any given election year roughly ________ of the population does not vote.

one half

Poor ________ can skew election results, particularly if one age or socioeconomic group is more diligent in its efforts to make it to the polls.

poor voter turnout

Endeavors to gain ________ and influence do not necessarily lead to violence, exploitation, or abuse.

power

________ affects more than personal relationships; it shapes larger dynamics like social groups, professional organizations, and governments.

power

According to Weber, power which is made valid by laws, written rules, and regulations is termed ________. In this type of authority, power is vested in a particular rationale, system, or ideology and not necessarily in the person who implements the specifics of that doctrine. A nation that follows a constitution applies this type of authority.

rational-legal authority

A(n) _________________ is an extremely oppressive government that seeks to control all aspects of its citizens' lives.

totalitarian dictatorship

According to Max Weber, the power of ________ is accepted because it has been accepted for a long time.

traditional authority

Historically, African Americans and other minorities have been underrepresented at the

voting polls