At any given time, the government is in the process of decision making because societal problems are ever emerging. .
Some social scientists believe that political power is held by a small number of wealthy individuals. The powerful elite are seen to have immense contribution to any policy that has to be implemented in American society. Elitist theoreticians believe that the power elite do not represent the choices of the majority of the people because they do not garner for mass support. According to the elitist theoreticians, a few thousand movers and shakers in the American society determine what the government does according to their needs. Ordinary voters are powerless and they sometimes are manipulated when choosing candidates during elections. However, the ordinary voters do not realize that a select group who make decisions, which do not take their interests seriously, leads them. The powerful elite hold high-level positions in the corporate world. They are the biggest donors in presidential elections and as a result, the president strives to meet their demands. Although some people in the United States believe that the government does not play a role in personal behaviors, the ruling elite wants the government to legislate on gay and other social rights (Dye 23). .
American society is multicultural and this means that some groups are excluded from decision-making processes. However, it has to be noted that in each group, a counter elite develops that promotes the interests of that group. American society is divided in terms of race, gender, religion, and nobility. Some groups such as minority do not have power to influence decisions that are before the government. However, powerful individuals have developed among these groups and this ensures that the government has to legislate on all groups. Elites and counter elites have to negotiate in order to come to an agreement on what needs to be done.
