Introduction
One of the core assumptions of the elitist theory is that a small number of elite groups run the
government and other power institutions in the United States. If one is to analyze the policy
process based on that assumption, it is inevitable to say that policies are then determined by
those elite groups, thus reflecting their interests1. In this paper, I will try to analyze that
relationship and demonstrate through example how elitist theory can be used to capture
important elements of our political system, including the common background of members of the
power elite. In addition, I will address some of the limitations associated with the theory.