1. Political Action Committees are a group of business people within a company that contribute to political campaigns to gain benefits from that political party. Through these contributions, they hope to gain access to a portion of the political pie, especially on issues affecting them (i.e. Clean Air Act and the steel industry). Through relatively small contributions to members of Congress, they are able to sway congressmen to add revisions and attachments to laws that are passed. They revisions allow for the industry to avoid the new laws or extend the period before which they go into effect. These contributions literally buy businesses time and loopholes through which they continue their questionable practices.
5. Clawson's "field theory" of power states that social power is similar to the force of a magnetic field. A magnetic field changes the movement of of objects attracted by magnetism. If a powerful social figure appears, the social space of others is changed and they are drawn to the social figure. If 10,000 workers in a particular factory in a particular city are in not in support of a decision that may jeopardize their jobs by a certain congressman, they most likely will not vote for the congressman. This concept makes those workers a powerful social figure in respect to the amount of votes a congressman needs to be elected. The congressman may be drawn to review the needs of those 10,000 workers. Another way to draw power towards a social figure is through PAC contributions. When a group of people contributes a significant amount of money, they expect to receive support on certain issues, even if this is unsaid. Their contribution creates a sense of obligation, the congressman may become more aware of the company and its interests. The contribution is reciprocated through the congressman ability to influence politics, and has been swayed by the "field of power".
7. Pluralism I; Representative Democracy is the theory that I would place in Clawson's article on "Dollars and Votes". This theory describes how PACs use campaign dollars to finance votes in their direction. The U.S. is no longer a true democracy, but rather politicians that are voted into office by the majority and then persuaded by the wealthy industries of the U.S. to promote/demote certain issues. This theory also describes the ways that individuals can make contributions to a campaign. Executives can bundle sums of 1,000 dollars to make a very significant campaign contribution to a politician. The corporation can reimburse executives who contributed with Christmas bonuses. Soft money can be used by anyone. These contributions are unlimited as far as dollars. This method is often used by wealthy people to contribute large amounts of money to a campaign. Foundations are also widely used. They allow unlimited contributions and the identity of the giver is hidden from public record. The influences these donations have upon politics today are profound. From the beginning, a candidate can be eliminated by the allotment of funding provided by PACs and individuals who use their finances politically. This theory directly relates to "Dollars and Votes" through the swaying of politicians with campaign dollars, and the virtual elimination of candidates who resist the practice.