The elite theory of government maintains that
special interest groups make government policy
politicians who have held office for a long time are favored by voters
poor people and people of color should not be allowed to vote
wealthy, politically powerful people control government, and government has no interest in meeting the needs of ordinary people

wealthy, politically powerful people control government, and government has no interest in meeting the needs of ordinary people

Explanation:

The theory describes power relationships as manipulated by a small minority of wealthy and powerful individuals forming an economical elite and totally functioning apart from democratic elections.

The people has influence in key positions as corporations and think thanks who are their instruments for perpetuatingi their predominance.

For this theory power is reduced to a group that has even controlled the goverment and political institutions therefore institutions are worthless of meeting needs for the common good.

Writers in this line are Pareto, Gateano Mosca, and Robert Michels.

As long as reduced minority contros policy planning netwokrs this power will be independent of any democractic and institutional settings.