<P> Three of the major tenets of the pluralist school are (1) resources and hence potential power are widely scattered throughout society; (2) at least some resources are available to nearly everyone; and (3) at any time the amount of potential power exceeds the amount of actual power . </P> <P> Finally, and perhaps most important, no one is all - powerful unless proven so through empirical observation . An individual or group that is influential in one realm may be weak in another . Large military contractors certainly throw their weight around on defense matters, but how much sway do they have on agricultural or health policies? A measure of power, therefore, is its scope, or the range of areas where it is successfully applied as observed by a researcher . Pluralists believe that with few exceptions power holders usually have a relatively limited scope of influence . Pluralism does leave room for an elitist situation - Should a group A continuously exert power over multiple groups . For a pluralist to accept this notion, it must be empirically observed and not assumed so by definition . </P> <P> For all these reasons power cannot be taken for granted . One has to observe it empirically in order to know who really governs . The best way to do this, pluralists believe, is to examine a wide range of specific decisions, noting who took which side and who ultimately won and lost . Only by keeping score on a variety of controversies can one begin to identify actual power holders . Pluralism was associated with behavioralism . </P> <P> A contradiction to pluralist power is often cited from the origin of one's power . Although certain groups may share power, people within those groups set agendas, decide issues, and take on leadership roles through their own qualities . Some theorists argue that these qualities cannot be transferred, thus creating a system where elitism still exists . What this theory fails to take into account is the prospect of overcoming these qualities by garnering support from other groups . By aggregating power with other organizations, interest groups can over-power these non-transferable qualities . In this sense, political pluralism still applies to these aspects . </P>

Because of the pluralistic nature of american democracy making important changes in the system