Ch17 Exam Prep Government and Politics

Test Bank Questions

Chapter 17

1. How did Max Weber define power?
   1. The authority to imprison citizens without cause.
   2. The legal resources to prosecute and punish.
   3. Politically elected influence used to control the masses.
   4. The ability to exercise one’s will over others
2. Juan believes that battles such as the French Revolution are necessary for a country to preserve liberty, to maintain or gain land, and will ultimately lead to a more even distribution of wealth among a population. From which sociological perspective do Juan’s thoughts come from?
   1. Feminist
   2. Conflict theory
   3. Functionalism
   4. Symbolic interactionism

Please match the type of authority with its definition:

1. Traditional (a)
2. Charismatic (c)
3. Rational-Legal (b)
   1. Power legitimized on the basis of long-standing customs
   2. Power that is legitimized by rules, regulations, and laws
   3. Power legitimized on the basis of a leader’s exceptional personal qualities
4. Which sociological perspective would consider activism such as Occupy Wall Street and Teacher’s Union rallies undesirable, because they force political change?
   1. Feminist
   2. Conflict theory
   3. Functionalism
   4. Symbolic interactionism
5. What is the difference between an oligarchy and a monarchy?
   1. Members of an oligarchy do not necessarily achieve their status based on ties to noble

ancestry, while members of a monarchy do.

• 1. There is no difference – both members achieve status based on ties to noble ancestry.
  2. Both are elected by a democratic process, but monarchies have the right to override the

popular vote.

• 1. Members of a monarchy do not necessarily achieve their status based on ties to noble

ancestry, while members of an oligarchy do.

1. Which sociologist studied the power elite, and wrote the book entitled Who Rules America?
   1. G. William Domhoff
   2. C. Wright Mills
   3. Karl Marx
   4. Émile Durkheim
2. Communist regimes, which attempt to control all aspects of citizens’ lives, are examples of which form of government:
   1. Oligarchy
   2. Dictatorship
   3. Constitutional monarchy
   4. Totalitarian dictatorship
3. In recent decades, lobbying has become a powerful force in the political world. Lobbyists frequently meet behind closed doors with senators, lawmakers, and congressmen and women to push influential legislation through the congressional process. Which sociological perspective would be most interested in examining the lobbying movement?
   1. Feminist
   2. Exchange theory
   3. Functionalism
   4. Symbolic interactionism
4. Which of the following best defines the term patrimonialism?
   1. Power that people accept because it comes from a source that is perceived as legitimate.
   2. A military technique which includes the spread of the conquering country’s religion.
   3. A ruling class that is dependent upon the blood line from the father’s side of the family.
   4. A type of authority wherein military and administrative factions enforce the power of the

master.

1. What was the significance of the famous case Reynolds v. Sims?
   1. It gave African Americans the right to vote.
   2. It reaffirmed the concept that each person’s vote should be counted equally.
   3. It gave women the right to vote.
   4. It established the precedent that felons are not allowed to vote.
2. Queen Noor of Jordan is a leader of which form of government?
   1. Oligarchy
   2. Dictatorship
   3. Constitutional monarchy
   4. Monarchy
3. Over the past decades, the turnout of minority voters has:
   1. Steadily increased
   2. Remained unchanged
   3. Steadily decreased
   4. Slowly decreased
4. From the functionalist perspective, which of the following is NOT a purpose of government?
   1. Planning and directing society
   2. Meeting social needs
   3. Managing international relations
   4. Lobbying for domestic corporate interests
5. Kendra believes the U.S. government to be corrupt, and thinks that there should be no governing force to control people’s lives. Kendra believes in:
   1. Democracy
   2. Constitutional monarchy
   3. Anarchy
   4. Oligarchies
6. Please define representative democracy:
   1. A form of government in which a small percentage of the population is represented by

popular election, and the rest of the population is represented by those whose office is

dependent upon noble birth.

• 1. A government of a nation that recognizes monarchs but requires these figures to abide by

the laws of a greater constitution.

• 1. A form of government in which power is held by a small, elite group.
  2. A government wherein citizens elect officials to represent their interests.

1. Hitler was an example of what kind of authority?
   1. Charismatic
   2. Rational-legal
   3. Traditional
   4. None of the above.
2. Which of the following contributes lower percentage of voter turnout from those who come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds?
   1. Voting sites frequently discourage participation from those of lower socioeconomic

backgrounds.

• 1. Members of lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to overestimate the voting

practices of their peers.

• 1. Lower-paying jobs frequently have less flexible hours, making time to vote difficult.
  2. Many citizens from lower socioeconomic backgrounds cannot afford to vote.

1. Which sociologist saw political conflict as the only means of promoting positive change for the underprivileged?
   1. G. William Domhoff
   2. C. Wright Mills
   3. Karl Marx
   4. Émile Durkheim

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