Political Science 161
Questions for Dye and Zeigler, Chapter 1
(Questions for Chapter 2 Below)
1. What is the irony of democracy? Briefly summarize elite theory.
2. Briefly summarize democratic theory.
3. What is the practical solution to the problem of popular government in a large country?
What is the Iron law of Oligarchy? Why is the government considered the most powerful of
society’s institutions? According to the authors what is the difference between elites in a
democratic society and a totalitarian one?
4. What are the eight basic features of pluralism?
5. What features do pluralism and elitism have in common? In what eight ways does elitism differ from pluralism?
6. Discuss elite threats to democracy. Discuss mass threats to democracy. Why are democracies particularly vulnerable to terrorism? Why do the authors feel that the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were not successful, at least initially?
7. Discuss how the authors defend an elitist interpretation of American democracy.
Political Science 161
1. Describe the five classes that existed at the time of the Constitutional Convention. What were the two important powers of government that Congress lacked under the Articles of Confederation? What was the importance of Shays’ Rebellion to the founders?
2. What were the eight points of elite preference that inspired the call for a new constitution? What were the five basic characteristics of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention?
3. What were the five basic points of elite consensus at the time of the Convention according to the authors? What were the four major compromises made at the convention between elites?
4. Describe the Constitution as an elitist document. Think about elite philosophy, the impact of the document on elite interests, the structure of government, and the ratification process.