If you recall from chapter one, structure refers to the "pattered arrangements that affect agency" while agency refers to "the ability to enact your own free will " and can in turn affect structure" (Chambliss and Eglitis, 2020, p.3).

Political systems provide the "patterned arrangements" for government decision making in society. If we compare the structure of political systems across the world, we will find tremendous variation. Some political systems may provide arrangements for people to vote, but not provide any structure around how the votes are counted. Other political systems may provide arrangements for people to vote and to ensure the votes are properly counted. Still, other political systems may be structured so that citizens can vote and be assured that the votes are properly counted, yet not ensure that all groups have equal access to vote. You can see from these examples that political systems provide the "patterned arrangements" for government decision making in society. If you found yourself living in a society where the structure of the political system did not properly count citizen's votes, this would impact the agency of that society's members to have a say in government decision making.

Economic systems provide the "patterned arrangements" for the distribution of goods and services in a society. If we compare the structure of economic systems around the world, we will find tremendous variation (just as we would find with political systems!). Some economic systems are structured on the principles of the free market and make specific arrangements to limit the extent to which the government can intervene in market activity; Other economic systems rely more heavily on the government to manage the trade of goods and services. Still, other economic systems can have rules that limit the government's ability to manage the economy, while at the same time, rely on the government to insure that contracts are enforced and that corruption in the free market is kept to a minimum. All economic systems include some level of management by government and engage in market trade. The difference between economic systems is determined by the extent to which each of these elements are present. The type of economic system you live in can affect the economic choices you have.

Select the response that best answers the question.

Value: 2

Structure is defined as

a.The ability to enact your free will

b.patterned social arrangements

c.values

d.All of the above

Value: 2

Which of the following is true?

a.Political systems provide the patterned arrangements for government decision making

b.Economic systems provide the patterned arrangements for governmental decision making

c.Political and economic systems are not influenced by people's agency and never change.

Value: 2

If you live in an economic system that has limited government management of free market activity, but does not have any arrangements to insure that contracts are honored, this can affect

[mark all correct answers]

a.your agency to vote in the next election

b.your agency to do get paid for the services you have provided

c.your ability to enact your free speech rights