7. Social Mobility in the United States

Question 1

social stratification

Answer 1

társadalmi rétegződés
(upper, middle, lower classes) society’s categorization of people into socioeconomic strata, based upon their occupation and income, wealth, social status or derived power (social or political). Social stratification refers to a system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy. In the United States, it is perfectly clear that some groups have greater status, power, and wealth than other groups.

Question 2

What is the IRS?

Answer 2

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the federal agency responsible for collecting taxes and administering the tax laws in the United States. It operates under the Department of the Treasury and is tasked with ensuring that taxpayers comply with the tax code, providing assistance to taxpayers, and overseeing various benefits programs.

The IRS was established in 1862 during the Civil War to collect income taxes to fund the war effort. Over the years, it has undergone numerous changes and reforms. Today, the IRS’s mission is to provide top-quality service to taxpayers, helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities while enforcing the law with integrity and fairness.

Question 3

Social Mobility

Answer 3

Social mobility refers to the ability of individuals, families, or groups to move within or between social strata in society. This process can signify shifts in social class, economic status, or general position within the social hierarchy. This “movement” is a complex interplay of individual actions and systemic structures that either promote or inhibit upward (or downward) shifts in class.

Question 4

Types of Mobility

Answer 4

• upward mobility
• downward mobility
• intragenerational mobility
• intergenerational mobility