Page 466 - Sociology and You

436 Unit 4 Social Institutions
District of Columbia
Voter Turnout
It is commonly said that the voter holds the power in American politics. What often goes unsaid is that to exercise this power, the voter must actually vote. This map shows the voter turnout, as a per- centage of the eligible voting population, in each state for the 1996 presidential election.
1996 Presidential Election
More than 70% 65–69% 60–64% 55–59% 50–54%
Less than 50%
Interpreting the Map
1. Do you see any patterns in the voting rates? Describe them.
2. Identify some reasons for the distribution of rates.
3. What should be done to increase voter turnout rates?
Source: Federal Election Commission, http//www.fec.gov.
Functionalists think that pluralism based on the existence of diverse interest groups best describes the distribution of power in America. While recognizing competition among interest groups, functionalists contend that it is based on an underlying consensus regarding the goals of the entire soci- ety. Elitism is based on the conflict perspective. This theory of power distri- bution assumes that the elites are constantly working to maintain their hold on society’s major institutions. In so doing, elites force others to help them reach their own goals. These two models are illustrated in Figure 13.3.
Functionalist Perspective: Pluralism
According to pluralists, major political decisions in the United States are not made by an elite few. As an example, they point to the beneficiaries of the 2001 tax-cut bill. Tax breaks came not only to the wealthy, such as Microsoft’s Bill Gates, but also to groups with more modest resources, such as churches and mental health care facilities.