Political Power in America: Five Views and Key Theorists (Chapter Notes)

Flashcards cover the five views of how political power is distributed in America (class, power elite, bureaucratic, pluralist, creedal passion) and key theorists and definitions from Chapter 1-4 notes.

Representative democracy

A system in which leaders are authorized to make decisions and wield political power by winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote.

Elite

An identifiable group that possesses a disproportionate share of a valued resource, notably political power.

Class view

Wealthy capitalists and other economic elites determine most policies; government is dominated by capitalists.

Power elite view

A small group of top leaders from business, the military, labor, and elected officials who control most major decisions, often without holding elective office.

Bureaucratic view

Appointed bureaucrats run the government; competent officials implement and shape policy through administration (Weber).

Pluralist view

Many competing interests influence policy; no single elite dominates because political resources are widely distributed.

Creedal passion view

Morally impassioned elites drive important political changes, often guided by democratic ideals rather than economic self-interest.

Karl Marx

Founder of the class view; argued governments were dominated by the bourgeoisie until a proletarian revolution.

Max Weber

Proponent of the bureaucratic view; argued modern states entrust power to competent appointed bureaucrats who manage complex affairs.

C. Wright Mills

Proponent of the power elite view; argued American democracy is controlled by a few wealthy or privately powerful leaders who do not hold elective office.

David Truman

Advocate of the pluralist view; argued that political resources are broadly distributed among many groups, preventing domination by any single elite.

Samuel P Huntington

Articulated the creedal passion view; highlighted how morally impassioned elites have driven major political changes (e.g., civil rights, reform movements).