Final answer:
The Power Elite, as described by C. Wright Mills, is a small group of influential individuals across the economy, government, and military who hold considerable power in society. The correct response to the student's question is B. Power Elite, Pluralist.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Power Elite, at least in the United States, came from three separate parts of society: the economy, the government, and the military. More importantly, C. Wright Mills said in his book called, The Power Elite, that the elites from each part of society tended to know each other, interact, and even move from being elite in one part of society to being elite in another. The correct answer is B. Power Elite, Pluralist.
C. Wright Mills, the sociologist who introduced the concept of the power elite, believed that a small group of wealthy and influential people had significant control over society. This group's influence spanned various aspects, including the economy and the government. Mills' elite theory suggests that these elites use their power to preserve their status and wealth, making decisions that benefit their interests.
In contrast, the pluralist theory of government posits that power is more dispersed among a multitude of competing interest groups, giving various citizens and organizations a stake and influence within the political system. Pluralism assumes a level of democratic engagement where different groups counterbalance each others' influences.