A Princeton‑Northwestern study titled “Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens” examined almost 1,800 U.S. policies enacted between 1981 and 2002 to see whose preferences shaped them. The analysis compared the expressed interests of average Americans, affluent citizens, and organized interest groups.

Results confirm that U.S. policy is largely determined by the economic elite and business‑oriented organizations, while mass‑based groups and ordinary citizens wield little independent influence. The 42‑page work applies four theoretical lenses—majoritarian electoral democracy, economic elite domination, majoritarian pluralism, and biased pluralism—to show that the majority rarely drives policy outcomes.

The report notes that Americans still enjoy key democratic features such as regular elections and freedom of speech, but warns that when policymaking is dominated by a small, affluent cohort, the country’s democratic claims are “seriously threatened.”

Thus, the study concludes that the U.S. is more an oligarchy than a democracy, with the rich and powerful steering government decisions, leaving the majority’s preferences largely unrepresented.