Power

Question 1

Dante is a young urban professional working for a tech startup in San Francisco. He receives a decent salary, but also receives generous health insurance, retirement, and family leave policies. We would say that Dante is part of the ____.

Answer 1

primary labor market

Question 2

The economy is typically divided into three sectors. Often simply called the “manufacturing” sector, the ____ sector involves taking raw materials and transforming them into finished products.

Answer 2

secondary/industrial

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT true about the social impacts of the Industrial Revolution?

Answer 3

Economic inequality fell sharply as more goods became available to consumers

Question 4

The ____ is the social institution that organizes production, consumption, and trade of goods in a society.

Answer 4

economy

Question 5

When economists refer to the “invisible hand,” they’re referring to Adam Smith’s argument that ____.

Answer 5

if left alone, consumers in a capitalist economy would regulate the market themselves by selecting goods and services they value

Question 6

Capitalism is characterized by ____.

Answer 6

private ownership and open competition

Question 7

Socialism is characterized by ____.

Answer 7

collective ownership of the means of production, with a emphasis on meeting everyone’s basic needs rather than generating wealth

Question 8

Economists believe that at least some level of government regulation is necessary in capitalism in order to prevent market failures. (T/F)

Answer 8

true

Question 9

The key development in the emergence of the modern economy was ____.

Answer 9

Industrial Revolution

Question 10

The largest portion of the US economy today is the ____ sector.

Answer 10

tertiary/service

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT one of the key questions decided by economic systems?

Answer 11

The level of taxes on goods and services

Question 12

Individual households belong to the resource market because ____.

Answer 12

they sell their labor to businesses

Question 13

Which of the following statements is NOT true about “mixed” market economies?

Answer 13

invisible hand of the market guarantees efficiency through competition.

Question 14

In the “circular flow” economic model, ____

Answer 14

businesses sell goods and services to households and households sell their labor to businesses

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a way in which our government intervenes in the market economy?

Answer 15

Setting limits on total profits businesses are allowed to declare in any fiscal year.

Question 16

An economy that combines capitalism with some areas of government control and regulation is called a(n) ____ economy.

Answer 16

mixed

Question 17

An economy in which government strictly controls all aspects of production is called a(n) ____ economy

Answer 17

planned

Question 18

The key distinguishing feature of different economic systems is ____.

Answer 18

who owns and controls the factors of production

Question 19

Political economists agree that there are a number of ways in which governments structure markets. In the 1930s and 1940s, it wasn’t cost effective to provide electricity to many parts of rural America. During the New Deal, the government stepped in and built electric power through projects like the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). This illustrates which of the ways in which the US government structures the market economy?

Answer 19

providing public goods

Question 20

Political economists agree that there are a number of ways in which governments structure markets. When a company hires an employee in the US, the boss can assume that the employee has some basic skills (reading, math, etc.) but also knows how to show up on time and follow directions. Companies don’t have to completely train their employees “from scratch.” This illustrates which of the ways in which the US government structures the market economy?

Answer 20

creating labor force

Question 21

Political economists agree that there are a number of ways in which governments structure markets. The factory in town used to dump its waste into the river, but local residents began to complain about its effect on their health. The factory wasn’t going to spend more money on waste treatment if it didn’t have to, so the state government passed environmental regulations that made it illegal to dump industrial waste into the river. This illustrates which of the ways in which the US government structures the market economy?

Answer 21

Ameliorating externalities

Question 22

Political economists agree that there are a number of ways in which governments structures markets. In a perfect free market, only the laws of supply and demand would determine what is sold on the market. But many US states and localities have “blue laws” that outlaw or restrict the sale of alcohol. This illustrates which of the ways in which the US government structures markets?

Answer 22

governing rules of exchange

Question 23

Political economists agree that there are a number of ways in which governments structure markets. In the US, mergers between large companies need to be approved by the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission. This illustrates which of the ways in which the US government structures the market economy?

Answer 23

promoting competition

Question 24

Political economists agree that there are a number of ways in which governments structure markets. When you buy gasoline at the pump, you are confident that a gallon of gas at one gas station will be equal in volume to a gallon of gas at the gas station across town. This illustrates which of the ways in which the US government structures the market economy?

Answer 24

setting market standards

Question 25

Political economists agree that there are a number of ways in which governments structure markets. There's an old saying that "possession is nine tenths the law". But if you don't pay rent, your landlord can call the sheriff to evict you. This illustrates which of the ways in which the US government structures the market economy?

Answer 25

defining rules of property

Question 26

The rise of online shopping is correlated with what other trends?

Answer 26

- Spending on electronics has increased - Spending on clothing has increased - The average size of American homes has increased - We are less likely to return unwanted items

Question 27

The model of an economic "virtuous economic cycle" in which rising wages led to increased spending and eventually greater production suggests that ____ are the true "job creators" in a capitalist economy.

Answer 27

consumers

Question 28

Bernard Mandeville's 1723 essay "The Fable of the Bees" argued that _____ strengthened a country's economy.

Answer 28

shopping for pleasure

Question 29

Consumer goods like clothing, electronics, and furniture today are ____.

Answer 29

- increasingly unnecessary, impulse buys - cheaper than before - often transported across long distances

Question 30

For most of human history, most people had very few material possessions. (T/F)

Answer 30

true

Question 31

Which of the following is true about Europe in the early 1700s?

Answer 31

For most people, combs, mirrors, and underwear were small luxuries

Question 32

When economists describe air pollution as a "market failure" they mean that ____.

Answer 32

we all want clean air, but existing market incentives work against that demand

Question 33

The concept of "the tragedy of the commons" represents ____.

Answer 33

a situation in which maximizing individual self-interest is contrary to the collective good

Question 34

Like other aspects of the economy, the amount of pollution produced is fundamentally driven by ____.

Answer 34

the choices we make as consumers in what we demand from markets

Question 35

The discussion of environmental economics emphasizes that economics is fundamentally about ____.

Answer 35

choices we make

Question 36

Which of the following are ways that government could intervene to reduce pollution?

Answer 36

- Create "permit markets" by setting limits on how much firms can pollute, but allowing them to buy/sell pollution permits - Provide price incentives to encourage environment-friendly choices (with taxes and/or subsidies) - Set specific rules about how much specific industries can pollute - Directly subsidizing specific technologies or industries

Question 37

If the government were to set up a "permit market" for air pollution, which of the following would be true?

Answer 37

- companies that exceeded pollution limits could buy permits (or "pollution credits") from other companies - companies that were below their pollution limits could sell permits (or "pollution credits") to other companies

Question 38

One key lesson from the study of "happiness economics" is that ____.

Answer 38

where we sit in terms of social class (where we fit in the economy) effects our emotional well-being

Question 39

The "reference-income hypothesis" suggests that ____.

Answer 39

our happiness seems to depend primarily on how we compare to our neighbors (those around us)

Question 40

over time, they sometimes skipped and did other things, instead. They hadn't been to their local hangout for several weeks, but when they heard that the place would no longer offer free appetizers during happy hour they were upset. This illustrates the concept of ____.

Answer 40

the "hedonic treadmill"

Question 41

According to research, "peak happiness" seems to occur at what income?

Answer 41

At around $82,000

Question 42

The principle of diminishing returns helps explain why ____.

Answer 42

having $10 million does not make you much happier than someone with only $1 million

Question 43

One key lesson from the study of "happiness economics" is that ____.

Answer 43

while income and wealth matters, social status is often more important

Question 44

Which of the following economic factors affect individual happiness?

Answer 44

- Long commutes have a negative effect on happiness - Working long hours has a negative effect on happiness - Unemployment has a negative effect on happiness

Question 45

Power is ____.

Answer 45

the ability to make others do what you want them to do

Question 46

In the pluralist model of politics, power is ____.

Answer 46

widely distributed throughout a stable society

Question 47

The quote "If you're not taking action, you're being acted upon" illustrates which of the three "laws" of power?

Answer 47

Power is never static

Question 48

The power elite theory states that power is ____.

Answer 48

concentrated in a small number of people who control the major institutions of the state

Question 49

The political spectrum is the broad array of beliefs and ideas that make up the politics of a society. People identified with mainstream"right" (or "conservative") positions tend to prefer ____ forms of authority.

Answer 49

traditional

Question 50

The political spectrum is the broad array of beliefs and ideas that make up the politics of a society. People identified with mainstream"left" (or "liberal") positions tend to prefer economic policies that ____.

Answer 50

favor some government intervention in the economy to help guarantee equality of outcomes

Question 51

Sociologists who study politics, focus their study on ____.

Answer 51

the distribution of power and resources in a society

Question 52

The US political system combines all three types of authority identified by Max Weber. Presidential powers outlined in the US constitution and other laws represent ____ authority.

Answer 52

rational-legal

Question 53

Max Weber defined a "state" as ____.

Answer 53

an organization that tries to maintain a monopoly of violence in a territory

Question 54

The US political system combines all three types of authority identified by Max Weber. Presidential elections and political campaigns represent ____ authority.

Answer 54

charismatic

Question 55

Alexis de Tocqueville's views on democracy are based on his study of ____.

Answer 55

USA in 1830s

Question 56

Which of the following is/are problem(s) Tocqueville associated with a democratic society?

Answer 56

- Democracy breeds envy and shame - Democracy breeds materialism - Democracy undermines freedom of mind

Question 57

In the video, the narrator argues that Tocqueville thought that democracy breeds a culture of "envy and shame" within a society. In sociological terms, what does this mean?

Answer 57

One's social status is very important in democratic society

Question 58

Which of the following best describes Alexis de Tocqueville's views about democracy?

Answer 58

Tocqueville believed democracy was on the rise and represented the future. He was mostly positive about this, but pointed out some problems associated with democratic society.

Question 59

Even in democracies, ethnic or religious minorities are often discriminated against. This is because of what drawback of democratic culture identified by Tocqueville?

Answer 59

Tyranny of majority

Question 60

Which of the following is/are example(s) of the way in which democratic society is often materialistic, according to Tocqueville?

Answer 60

- Preference for popular "brand name" clothing like Nike and Under Armor over other, less-well-known brands - Describing someone as "successful" because he/she earns a high salary, rather than focusing on the person's character traits - Judging a film based on its success at the box office, rather than on its artistic merit

Question 61

What is the primary way in which political scientists and political sociologists measure public opinion?

Answer 61

With polls (surveys) of large, representative samples of the population

Question 62

The concept of "rational ignorance" means that ____.

Answer 62

given how difficult it is to stay informed about politics, it makes sense for people to stay generally uninformed

Question 63

Which of the following polls probably suffers from some sort of selection bias?

Answer 63

- A survey of viewers on FOX, CNN, or MSNBC that the news hosts invite viewers to tell whether they approve or disapprove with a particular policy - A survey in which about 200 random people walking through a shopping mall are asked about political opinions - A telephone survey that uses random dialing to call 1,200 landlines to ask about support for a particular policy

Question 64

Which of the following is true about public opinion polls and government?

Answer 64

- Politicians use public opinion polls to "craft" their political messages in ways that will appeal to voters - Politicians don't always respond to public opinion polls - Public opinion polls can help set the agenda, by letting political leaders know which issues are most important

Question 65

To get a good survey that has a margin of error of about ±3% requires a sample of about ____.

Answer 65

1k to 1.5k

Question 66

The term "selection bias" describes ____.

Answer 66

any time a survey sample is not representative of the larger population being studied

Question 67

Public opinion polling can give us very clear idea of what Americans want their government to do. (T/F)

Answer 67

false

Question 68

Two candidates (Smith and Jones) are running for office. The most recent poll has a ±3% margin of error and shows the following: Smith 49% & Jones 51% How would you interpret this poll?

Answer 68

The race is basically a statistical tie, but seems to tilt slightly towards Jones

Question 69

Which of the following is true about public opinion polls?

Answer 69

- Individual opinions about political issues is unstable, and even random - Collective opinions about political issues is stable, and tends to express clear preferences

Question 70

When political scientists or political sociologists talk about "public opinion" they mean ____.

Answer 70

how a nation's population collectively views vital policy issues and/or evaluates political leaders

Question 71

There is a 100% correspondence between "political party" and "political ideology." The two terms mean the same thing. (T/F)

Answer 71

false

Question 72

Although Americans have a wide range of political beliefs, we tend to divide them into two groups: liberal-left and conservative-right. Which of the following is NOT a typical characteristic of the "liberal-left" in the US?

Answer 72

A desire to increase the size of government and expand control over the private sector

Question 73

When political sociologists say that generational experiences are a major source of political socialization, what they mean is that ____.

Answer 73

the political and economic conditions a person lives through

Question 74

Although Americans have a wide range of political beliefs, we tend to divide them into two groups: liberal-left and conservative-right. Which of the following is NOT a typical characteristic of the "conservative-right" in the US?

Answer 74

A desire to concentrate power in the hands of the presidency and reduce the power of the legislature and the states

Question 75

Overall, children tend to develop a similar political ideology as their parents. (T/F)

Answer 75

true

Question 76

One of the most interesting things about political behavior in the US is that although economic self-interest tends to motivate people, ____ frequently seem to vote against their economic interests.

Answer 76

poor whites

Question 77

Individuals establish their political ideologies (or views and beliefs) through a process of ____.

Answer 77

political socialization

Question 78

In general, women tend to be more conservative than men. (T/F)

Answer 78

false

Question 79

Which of the following best describes the impact of higher education on political ideology?

Answer 79

higher education tends to coincide with liberal social values but also correlates with higher income, which tends to coincide with conservative fiscal values

Question 80

Many social programs include some level of wealth redistribution, usually from the rich to the poor. (T/F)

Answer 80

true

Question 81

Which of the following is NOT a defining feature of social policy?

Answer 81

providing national security

Question 82

The US government's role in social policy grew rapidly during ____.

Answer 82

Great Depression

Question 83

What is the biggest threat to Social Security?

Answer 83

The number of young workers (who pay taxes) keeps falling, while the number of elderly (who receive benefits) keeps rising

Question 84

Social programs like free school lunches are "non-contributory" social program because ____.

Answer 84

individuals don't have to contribute through taxes in order to be eligible or receive benefits

Question 85

How does Social Security work?

Answer 85

Payroll taxes are taken from the wages or current workers, which are matched by your employer. Those funds are then used to pay benefits to current retirees.

Question 86

Why did so many Americans come to believe that it was part of the government's job to do something about poverty in the 1930s?

Answer 86

The suffering caused by the Great Depression was widespread and affected most Americans.

Question 87

In 1996, President Clinton passed welfare reform that significantly reduced many social welfare programs by placing work restrictions and time eligibility restrictions (T/F)

Answer 87

true

Question 88

The government's role in education, especially higher education, is an example of social policy. (T/F)

Answer 88

true

Question 89

According to Mancor Olson, how do groups solve the collective action problem and coordinate effectively to achieve their goals?

Answer 89

by providing selective benefits to their members

Question 90

Political scientists and political sociologists distinguish between "insider" and "outsider" strategies to influence elected officials. Which of the following is NOT an example of an insider strategy?

Answer 90

Directly appealing to the public to mobilize grassroots support

Question 91

An interest group is ____.

Answer 91

an organization that attempts to influence policy by lobbying public officials to consider or advance its preferences

Question 92

According to pluralist theory, every group with a particular interest should be (equally) able to form an organization to pursue those interests. Why are some groups (e.g. doctors, unionized workers, business owners) better able to do this, while other groups (e.g. the homeless, the unemployed) are not?

Answer 92

Some groups have more resources available to help them organize, while others have limited resources available to them

Question 93

Political scientists and political sociologists distinguish between "insider" and "outsider" strategies to influence elected officials. Which of the following is NOT an example of an outsider strategy?

Answer 93

Using the courts to file cases directly challenging current laws

Question 94

Which of the following is NOT an example of an interest group?

Answer 94

Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL)

Question 95

People are less likely to "free ride" in larger groups since the pressure to belong is greater. (T/F)

Answer 95

false

Question 96

People who make extraordinary efforts to bring people together and organizing them for the purpose of changing policy are called ____.

Answer 96

political entrepreneurs

Question 97

People who will get the full benefit of a project and either don't pay a big enough share or they don't pay at all and assume someone else will get it done are called ____.

Answer 97

free riders

Question 98

Imagine that you and your neighbors all want a new road built to connect your community with the outside. You would all be better off with the road, but none of you is eager to build it on your own. This is an example of ____.

Answer 98

collective action problem

Question 99

Social movements that focus on changing some aspect of society are called ____ social movements.

Answer 99

activist

Question 100

In the study of social movements, ____ focuses on how groups that are oppressed respond to inequality and oppression.

Answer 100

relative deprivation theory

Question 101

If they become successful, social movements usually ____.

Answer 101

become institutionalized and incorporated into the dominant culture

Question 102

In the study of social movements, ____ focuses on how individuals compare the costs and benefits of joining or participating in a social movement.

Answer 102

rational choice theory

Question 103

The three things a social movement needs in order to be successful are ____.

Answer 103

organization, leadership, and resources

Question 104

A social movement is a(n) ____.

Answer 104

collective, organized effort that seeks to bring about or resist social change

Question 105

Social movements that actively seek to prevent social change are called ____ social movements.

Answer 105

regressive

Question 106

A collective attempt to further a common interest or secure a common group goal through action, often outside the sphere of established institutions is a ____.

Answer 106

social movement

Question 107

In the study of social movements, ____ focuses on factors that help or hinder the formation and/or success of social movements.

Answer 107

resource mobilization theory

Question 108

Thinking as a political sociologist, what do you think is the lesson from Selma for contemporary groups, such as Black Lives Matter?

Answer 108

that disruptive (but peaceful) protests should be combined with other strategies, such as working through the courts and lobbying political leaders.

Question 109

Although the Civil Rights protesters had committed themselves to non-violence, they invited violence from their opponents as a tactic to demonstrate their moral superiority and the justice of their cause. (T/F)

Answer 109

true

Question 110

All of the following accurately describes the march on Selma, EXCEPT:

Answer 110

The march on Selma was a spontaneous event that emerged as a reaction to the violent refusal to allow African-Americans to register to vote at the county courthouse.

Question 111

The film Selma depicts many members of the various groups involved in organizing the march on Selma often arguing about different tactics. Janet Vertesi points out that the film does this in order to ____

Answer 111

show that successful social movement involve difficult strategic choices, often including many different coordinated strategies

Question 112

The film Selma reminds us that the most important part of the Civil Rights Movement were the speeches made by Martin Luther King, Jr. (T/F)

Answer 112

false

Question 113

The events depicted in Selma show that MLK and the other leaders ____.

Answer 113

combined "outsider" and "insider" political strategies

Question 114

Someone using resource mobilization theory to analyze the events depicted in Selma would ____.

Answer 114

focus on the strategic choices made by the movement's leaders, as well as how they mobilized resources like churches, local organizations, and the media

Question 115

Through use of lighting and other visual cues, the film Selma juxtaposes "public" and "private" spaces in ways that ____.

Answer 115

show that white characters had greater access to "public" spaces than African-American characters do

Question 116

What role did the media, particularly television, play in the events portrayed in Selma (and the broader Civil Rights Movement)?

Answer 116

By reporting on the events, and airing footage of police repression on television, the media galvanized public opinion in favor of the Civil Rights movement.

Question 117

The film Selma focuses on the story of ____.

Answer 117

the 1965 march to the Alabama capital to demand voting rights for African-Americans

Question 118

In 1890, the income of the average American was $380 per year, which was only a little higher than the poverty rate. (T/F)

Answer 118

false

Question 119

In theory, the main purpose of a minimum wage is ____.

Answer 119

to ensure that workers' wages are equal to the cost of living

Question 120

When did the US first adopt a federal minimum wage?

Answer 120

1938

Question 121

Can local governments (cities, states, etc.) set their own minimum wage HIGHER than the US federal minimum wage? (Y/N)

Answer 121

yes

Question 122

What is the primary reason why minimum wage laws were adopted?

Answer 122

Because of persistent collective action, such as strikes, by workers who demanded better wages and working conditions

Question 123

What is the current federally mandated minimum wage in the US?

Answer 123

$7.25/hour

Question 124

Which of the following were introduced in the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act?

Answer 124

- An hourly minimum wage - The 40-hour workweek - The abolition of (most) child labor - Regulations on workplace conditions - The 5-day workweek (the creation of "weekends")

Question 125

The current trend in consumer demands is to ____.

Answer 125

lower quality and lower prices

Question 126

Which of the following is an example of what economists call the "rebound effect" of making more fuel-efficient vehicles?

Answer 126

- Drivers with fuel-efficient cars spend less money on gas, but they might use their savings to increase their consumption in other ways - Making driving cheaper may encourage people to drive more - Lowering demand for gas drives down the price of oil, making it more attractive for use in other industries

Question 127

Imagine that your workplace has a shared refrigerator. Since no one regulates the use of the refrigerator, sometimes people take snacks without replacing them and the refrigerator become messy and gross. Eventually, the refrigerator is too disgusting and no one is willing to keep their food stored there. This is an example of ____.

Answer 127

tragedy of commons

Question 128

The tendency to dismiss expert opinion on issues like climate change or economic policy and prefer to use "common sense" or public opinion polls is an example of what drawback of democratic culture identified by Tocqueville?

Answer 128

democracy turns us against authority