polisci final

the power elite

heads of big corporations, machinery of state, military establishment;

occupy the strategic command posts of the social structure

position to make major decisions affecting the lives of everyone else, whether or not they actually do

immediately below the power elite

professional politicians of the middle rank, advisers and consultants, spokesmen and opinion makers, pressure groups, professional celebrities

mass society

little resemblance to the image of a society in which voluntary associations and classic public hold keys to power; much more fragmented than the top; largely powerless

According to C. Wright Mills, do members of the power elite always know the extent of their own power?

No — what they believe about themselves is not the relevant factor; their role exists regardless of their awareness.

What are the three major institutions that Mills identifies as central to the power elite?

The state, the corporation, and the army

How have these major institutions changed in modern society according to Mills?

They have become more centralized, interlocking, and coordinated than in the past.

What has happened to other institutions like family, church, and education in Mills’s analysis?

They have been sidelined in terms of power and influence.

Where does real power lie according to Mills?

Not just in individuals, but in access to command of major institutions.

How does Mills’s concept of the power elite differ from conspiracy theories?

It is not a secret cabal; it’s about institutional positions and coordination, not hidden plots by a small group.

what is power according to mills?

capacity to realize one’s will in the face of resistance

According to Mills, how is prestige distributed among the major institutions in modern society?

Great prestige follows the major institutions (state, corporation, army), and this prestige is cumulative and interchangeable between them.

Why, according to Mills, was the American upper class able to dominate without significant opposition?

Because the U.S. had no pre-capitalist aristocracy or fixed agrarian/military ruling class to contain or counter the commercial, industrial, capitalist class.

What should be the primary focus when analyzing the power elite, according to Mills?

The structural position of the high and mighty and the consequences of their decisions, not their awareness or motives.

Does Mills claim the power elite are always the "history-makers"?

No — he rejects dogma about the degree of power ruling groups have and notes their foresight and control can vary.

What limits the power of decision-makers in modern society, according to Mills?

The level of technique — the means of power, violence, and organization that prevail in a given society.

What historical trend does Mills identify in the West regarding power?

A straight line upward: means of oppression, violence, production, and communication have been progressively enlarged and centralized.

How does Mills compare historical rulers like Caesar or Napoleon to modern power elites?

Modern elites command far greater power due to centralized, efficient institutions — they can destroy cities or continents in short order.

What makes the decisions of small groups so consequential today, according to Mills?

The enormous enlargement and centralization of the facilities of power.

What is Mills’ stance on "historical necessity" in explaining events?

He opposes strong forms of historical necessity, arguing that both institutions and individual decisions matter.

what are mill’s 3 major keys to understanding?

psychology, structure and the mechanics, expilcit co-odrination

According to Mills, what common traits allow the power elite to achieve psychological and social unity?

They are of similar origin, education, career, and lifestyle, making intermingling and unity easier.

What two forms of social cohesion does the power elite share?

1) Shared prestige from the world of celebrity, and 2) interchangeability of positions within the state, corporation, and army.

How does the scale of bureaucratic domains affect the power of elites?

The greater the scale, the greater the scope of the elite’s power.

Under what conditions do elites become a coherent group rather than scattered?

When their institutional hierarchies have many interconnections and points of coinciding interest.

Name one key “structural coincidence of interest” in modern America that Mills highlights.

The development of a permanent war establishment by a privately incorporated economy inside a political vacuum.

Why do members of the power elite choose to work together formally and informally?

They realize that their individual interests can be achieved more easily through coordination.

What does Mills mean by the “interchangeability of positions” among the power elite?

Members move easily between top roles in government, corporations, and the military, reinforcing their shared power.

def of power as a social relationship according to Domhoff

Power exists in relationships between groups, not just individuals.

Two forms: (1) Collective power: a group’s ability to act together effectively. (2) Distributive power: the ability of one group to prevail over others. Organizational hierarchies naturally create inequalities of power: leaders gain control over resources, information, and alliances.

psychology of power

power changes people quickly: The powerful become more self-absorbed and less empathetic; the powerless become deferential and less confident. Paradox: power promotes coordination, but it also breeds domination and corruption. Rules and institutions are therefore needed to limit abuse

domhoff’s four major power networks

Economic: production and distribution of goods.

Political: government and lawmaking.

Military: coercion and defense.

Religious/Ideological: systems of meaning and moral order.

what are the 3 power indicators

who governs

who benefits

who wins

What does the "Who governs?" question aim to reveal in power analysis?

It examines who occupies top decision-making positions and whether certain groups or classes are overrepresented.

What is the "Who benefits?" question in studying power?

It asks who gains the most wealth, income, or privilege, using value distributions (like income or wealth shares) as indicators of power.

What is an example of using value distributions as a power indicator?

Tracking the top 1%’s share of national wealth—peaked at 24% in 1924, fell to 8–9% in the late 1970s, and is now about 22%.

How does financial wealth distribution in the U.S. reflect power?

The top 1% holds about 43% of financial wealth (stocks, bonds, real estate), while the bottom 80% holds only about 5%.

What does the "Who wins?" question focus on?

It examines who prevails in policy conflicts—who initiates, modifies, or vetoes policy alternatives on contentious issues.

What relationship does union density have with income and wealth distribution?

Union density is inversely related to the top 1%’s income and wealth share—when union density rises, their share falls, and vice versa.

When can a group be clearly identified as powerful in this framework?

When all three indicators—Who governs?, Who benefits?, and Who wins?—point to the same group (e.g., corporate elites).

According to Dahl, how is power distributed in modern America?

Power is dispersed across multiple groups—no single unified ruling class dominates all decisions.

What does "noncumulative inequalities" mean in Dahl’s framework?

Inequalities in one area (e.g., wealth) do not necessarily translate into advantages in other areas (e.g., political power or social standing).

What is a "political stratum"?

A group of politically active individuals (politicians, activists) who are more informed, strategic, and influential than the apolitical majority.

How does Dahl describe decision-making in a pluralist system?

Through bargaining among organized interests, not just top-down elite control.

What historical shift in governance does Dahl observe in New Haven?

move from rule by patrician families (1784–1842) to business elites (1842–1900) to “ex-plebs” from immigrant/working-class backgrounds (since 1900).

According to Dahl, what role do elections play in a pluralist system?

Elections matter because leaders must respond to constituents to stay in power—but they also exercise significant independent influence.

How do leaders maintain support in a pluralist system?

By ensuring a flow of rewards to subleaders, followers, and key constituencies.

What is "polyarchy"?

A form of government in which power is dispersed among many competing groups—Dahl’s model for modern democracy.

What creates ambiguity in the distribution of influence in Dahl’s system?

Leaders both lead and are led—they shape policy but must also respond to electoral pressures and constituent demands.

How does Dahl define Homo civicus?

The ordinary citizen who is rational, focused on private goals, and engages in politics only occasionally to advance personal interests — not inherently a “political animal.”

How does Dahl define Homo politicus?

A small subset of people who find deep gratification in political action and devote significant resources to gaining and maintaining control over government policies.

In a pluralistic democracy, what limits the strategies available to Homo politicus?

Traditions of legality, constitutionality, and legitimacy — deviating from accepted norms risks overwhelming opposition, even from usually apolitical citizens.

According to Dahl, what is a political resource?

Anything that can be used to sway the choices or strategies of another individual — i.e., anything that serves as an inducement.

Name four examples of political resources in Dahl’s framework.

Examples: time, money/wealth, control over jobs, information, social standing, charisma, legality, solidarity, the right to vote, education.

What does Dahl mean by solidarity as a political resource?

The ability to gain support from others who share similar occupation, ethnicity, religion, or social identity.

What is the relationship between resources and inequality in Dahl’s model?

Resources are unequally distributed, but inequalities are dispersed — being advantaged in one resource often means being disadvantaged in others.

According to Dahl, does any single resource dominate all key political decisions?

No — no one resource is effective across all issue areas or decisions.

Are there people completely without any political resources in Dahl’s system?

Virtually no one is entirely lacking in some influence resource — most have at least some means (e.g., a vote, time, solidarity) to exert influence.

How does the concept of dispersed inequalities support pluralist democracy?

It prevents any single group from monopolizing power, as advantages in one area (e.g., wealth) do not guarantee control over all decisions or resources.

How is the modern Democratic Party primarily organized?

Around a loose network of "policy clientele groups" rather than labor unions or ideologically committed activists.

What is the "policy state"?

The expansion of government programs that are insulated from party control, encouraging the rise of pressure groups, nonprofits, and legal advocacy organizations.

How did the "litigation state" emerge in the 1970s?

Congress incentivized private lawsuits to enforce federal regulations, pushing political conflict into the legal domain and spurring public-interest legal organizations.

What is the political principle behind "new policies create new politics"?

Policies create constituencies that support them (e.g., Obamacare beneficiaries), fostering loyalty to the enacting party.

What are post-materialist concerns, and who typically advocates for them?

Issues like environmentalism and social justice, pushed by professional-class voters and issue activists, often using moralistic language and direct-mail/cable TV

Why are beneficiaries of programs like SNAP or Medicaid often politically weak?

They rely on alliances with stronger lobbies (e.g., agriculture for SNAP, healthcare providers for Medicaid) rather than their own mobilization.

What is the "submerged state"?

Policies hidden in tax credits, public-private partnerships, and grants, making benefits invisible and hard for beneficiaries to attribute to government or a specific party.

What kind of politics does the "policy state" tend to produce?

Defensive politics focused on protecting existing gains rather than building new broad social contracts.

How does the "policy state" affect public understanding of government?

It promotes technocratic governance where experts design complex policies, reducing public comprehension and broad political mobilization.

What collective-action problems do policy clientele groups face?

They focus on narrow issues, lack structural power (like strikes), and often avoid risks, preventing broad multi-issue coalitions.

How do temporary coalitions around blocking legislation typically behave?

They splinter and dissolve after the immediate crisis passes, lacking endurance.

What two forms of power does the Democratic Party struggle with?

Power to – achieving broad goals.

Power with – building lasting coalitions and collective action.

What aspect of power is illustrated by outsourcing party functions to bureaucracies?

The second face of power – keeping issues off the public agenda by delegating to experts.

What were the main goals of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)?

Expand health insurance coverage, regulate private insurers (e.g., no denial for pre-existing conditions), create Health Insurance Marketplaces, expand Medicaid, and control healthcare costs.

How did the ACA expand access to insurance?

Through Medicaid expansion (up to 138% of poverty level), Health Insurance Marketplaces, and subsidies for those with incomes between 100%–400% of the poverty level.

What were the key insurance market reforms in the ACA?

Prohibition on denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, guaranteed essential health benefits, community rating, and no annual/lifetime caps on essential benefits.

What is the individual mandate, and what happened to it?

A requirement for most Americans to have health insurance or pay a penalty; the penalty was reduced to $0 in 2019, effectively ending the mandate.

How did President Obama's strategy for passing the ACA differ from Clinton’s in 1993?

Obama set broad goals but let Congress work out details, avoiding top-down control and learning from Clinton’s failure.

What role did Congressional rules and procedures play in shaping the ACA?

Senate filibuster rules required 60 votes, giving pivotal power to individual senators and committee chairs, and allowing GOP delays.

Why was bipartisanship elusive during ACA negotiations?

Republican leadership, under McConnell, aimed to deny Obama a political victory, and Tea Party opposition made compromise untenable.

How did stakeholders like hospitals, pharma, and insurers influence the ACA?

They secured concessions (e.g., new customers, protection from generics) in exchange for support or non-opposition, shaping the final bill.

What was the "public option," and why was it dropped?

A government-run insurance plan to compete with private insurers; it was removed due to opposition from moderates and industry, and Lieberman’s last-minute rejection.

How did outside groups like the Tea Party and HCAN affect the ACA debate?

Tea Party protests hardened GOP opposition; progressive groups pushed for broader subsidies and a public option, winning some concessions.

What is the "submerged state" problem in ACA-style policy?

Benefits delivered through tax credits and complex programs are often invisible, reducing public recognition and political mobilization.

What structural advantages do health industry stakeholders have over the general public in policy debates?

They are organized, resourced, knowledgeable, and focused on specific issues, while the public is diffuse and faces collective action problems.

How did progressive activism influence the final ACA legislation?

It created pressure for more generous subsidies and progressive provisions, giving liberal lawmakers leverage in negotiations.

What long-term political effects did the ACA aim for?

Creating policy constituencies (e.g., newly insured) to build durable support for the program and the Democratic Party

What is the Indian Nonintercourse Act of 1790?

A law requiring federal approval for all land transfers involving Native American tribes, meant to prevent fraudulent acquisition.

What are the two main historical entitlement arguments regarding Native American land?

1. Land was stolen and should be returned to original occupants.

2. Current owners obtained land legally (purchase, inheritance), so original claims are irrelevant.

According to Nozick, what are the two principles of justice in holdings?

1. Justice in Acquisition – original appropriation of unowned resources.

2. Justice in Transfer – voluntary exchange, gift, or inheritance.

What is the Lockean Proviso?

The condition that appropriation of unowned resources is just only if “enough and as good” is left for others.

How does Lyons critique Nozick’s view of inheritance?

Inheritance is not an essential feature of property rights; it depends on social rules and circumstances, and can perpetuate injustice.

What does Lyons say about the stability of property rights?

Property rights are not fixed; their content can vary with circumstances, and exclusivity is not essential.

According to Lyons, what is the basis for modern Native American claims?

Not original rights to land, but current inequalities and ongoing disadvantages that require rectification.

How might tribal collective claims differ from individual property claims?

Tribes may retain original rights as nations, not just as individuals, which could make historical claims more persistent.

What role does sentimental or symbolic value play in Lyons’ view of property rights?

He sees it as minimally important compared to fair distribution and rectification of current injustices.

What is a key limitation of Lyons’ approach noted in the discussion questions?

Bringing Native Americans into existing economic systems may repeat harms if those systems erased Indigenous ways of life.

If harm was done to a collective/nation rather than individuals, how does that affect the timeline of redress?

The harm may not be relegated to the past; obligations could persist as long as the collective identity and disadvantage persist.