Learning Objectives

After studying this chapter you should be able to understand the following:

2 Economic systems of capitalism vary in the degree to which the government regulates private ownership and economic activity, but all emphasize the profit motive.

3 The basic objective of a socialist economic system is to eliminate economic exploitation and meet people's needs.

4 Marx believed that communism would naturally evolve out of the socialism stage.

5 There are three basic sources of power within any political system : force, influence, and authority.

6 Max Weber identified three ideal types of authority: traditional, legal-rational, and charismatic.

7 The principal institutions of political socialization in the United States are the family, schools, and the media.

8 Political participation makes government accountable to its citizens, but there is a great deal of apathy in both the United States and other countries.

9 Women are still underrepresented in office but are becoming more successful at winning elections to public office.

10 Sometimes people band together in interest groups to influence public policy.

11 Advocates of the elite model of the power structure of the United States see the nation as being ruled by a small group of individuals who share common political and economic interests (a power elite), whereas advocates of a pluralist model believe that power is more widely shared among conflicting groups.

12 The nature of the U. S. economy is changing. Sociologists are interested in the changing face of the workforce, the effects of deindustrialization, increased use of a contingency workforce, and the emergence of e-commerce.

13 Despite numerous recent affirmative action programs, White males continue to hold the overwhelming majority of prestigious and high-paying jobs in the United States.