Chapter 5

Money Is
Power
By Erik Menjivar, Matthew Rodriguez, Ivan
Ibarra, Justin Ramirez
Money Is Power
● Money = Resources = Power

● The rich dictate policy

● Arizona Immigration Law

● 2017 Corporate Tax Reduction

● Top 10 percent holds 70 percent of the wealth

● 25% tax rate not fair considering how much

they have
The Well-Off are More Politically
Active
● Not everyone votes

● Income affects voter turnout

● Voter Identification Law, Poll Taxes,

Questionnaires

● People of color are affected the most

Thinning The Voter List...
● Policies were issued to restrict people
from voting on laws that politicians and
the rich were trying to pass.

● Such policies affect the young, poor,

women, elderly, and disabled.

● 35 States switch over to Early Voting

period. Only 8 total states do not use early
voting.

● Gerrymandering Practice disenfranchises

voting.
Voting isn't the only way to participate
in a democratic government
The
Big SPenders
rich/wealthy
● Can cause political change through ● Have more direct connections
marches, protests, and other public with people in
forums. power/government.
● Donate and fund political
● Contribute time to political
campaigns that they are in favor
events/campaigns for.
● Volunteer work and assistance at
elections.
 Lobbyists have loud voices
● Can only be useful for a select group of people

● Changes how the government operates

● Influence laws and regulations

● Influence the decisions of policy-makers

Control Over the Rule
Book
● Biased contributes to lawmakers

● Federal minimum wage increased denied due to “negative”

consequences - twenty trade associations

● Minimum wage workers

● Ninety one million spend in influence (senators)

● Rich stay richer while the poor gets poorer

Federal minimum wage
increase
1940 $0.30 1976 $2.30 2008 $6.55

1945 $0.40 1978 $2.65 2009 $7.25

1950 $0.75 1979 $2.90

1956 $1.00 1980 $3.10

1961 $1.15 1981 $3.35

1963 $1.25 1990 $3.80

1967 $1.40 1991 $4.25

1968 $1.60 1996 $4.75

1974 $2.00 1997 $5.15

1975 $2.10 2007 $5.85

Socratic Seminar
Is money the only contributing factor to power? Or are there
other factors equally as important or even higher than it?