chapter 10

Question 1

How do sociologists define power?

Answer 1

skills and resources to make things happen

Question 2

How do sociologists define the “state?”

Answer 2

human community that successfully claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory

Question 3

What is a social contract?

Answer 3

individuals’ acceptance of social rules and limitations in exchange for some protections and benefits from the state

Question 4

What type of democracy is the United States?

Answer 4

representative democracy

Question 5

What is meant by the power elite?

Answer 5

influential decision makers from corporations, politics, and the military

Question 6

Where do most people fall on the political ideology scale?

Answer 6

in the middle

Question 7

What Supreme Court case was the basis for establishing corporate “personhood?”

Answer 7

-Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad

-14th amendment = equal protection

-“free speech”

-the power elite

Question 8

Which Constitutional Amendment did corporations use to invoke “personhood?”

Answer 8

14th amendment

Question 9

Which Supreme Court case established that corporations and unions have essentially no restrictions in the amount of money they can spend in an election?

Answer 9

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Question 10

What are special interest groups?

Answer 10

political alliances based on shared interest of some economic or social issue

Question 11

What is capitalism? What are the general pros and cons of this economic system?

Answer 11

-Natural resources & means of production are privately owned, government out of business, individualism creates greatest good for greatest number

pros: increased standard of living, competition drives innovation

-cons: easy to replace human labor, high level of economic inequality

Question 12

What is socialism? What are the general pros and cons of this economic system?

Answer 12

-Natural resources & means of production are collectively owned, controlled by government, serves common good rather than self-interest

-pros: theoretically meets needs of everyone, fewer sharp distinctions between classes

-cons: excessive government control, reduces incentives & technological development

Question 13

What is meant by democratic socialism?

Answer 13

-regulated capitalism for consumer goods and services

-government for “safety net” programs

-limit influence of money on politics

-empower workers through unionization, co-ops, etc.