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4. "Active" citizens determine
whether a policy is implemented.
 The answer should be false.
The power structure of a community, which involves
5 classes of citizens, can affect the decision for implementation.
 At
the bottom of the pyramid are the Apathetic Citizens. These are
the community members who are not involved unless there is extreme personal
gain for their involvement.
Interested Citizens
are more aware than the Apathetic Citizens in that they keep up
with current events through the newspaper and television. This class tends
also to vote on most issues. However, this class is not vocal about their
beliefs.
The citizens that are
vocal about issues and assist with the planning and implementation of
policy decisions are the Active Citizens. This class is focused
on community activities and are civic minded.
Directly above the Active
Citizen class is the King class. The Kings are the elected
public officials. This class serves as the visual figurehead of the community.
At the top of the class
pyramid are the Kingmakers. These individuals typically have a
higher income, education, are 45 years of age or older, and have been
long-term members of the community. This class is the smallest in number,
yet their resources command their approval on all matters before a final
decision is made by the Kings.
Therefore, Kingmakers must agree and support the policy
efforts of Active citizens in order for them to be implemented.
Resources:
Flinchbaugh, Brad L. Who Makes Public
Decisions? Who Sets Policy? Working with our Publics. Module 6 - Selected
Readings. (For additional information, contact jwarning@iastate.edu)
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