mework which defines the establishment, and that individual entry into the power elite is a function of the var ious institutional entrance criteria (Lerner, Nagai, and Roth man, 1989; Lichter, Rothman, and Lichter, 1986; Domhoff, 1983; Silk, and Silk, 1980; Rose, 1967).
The diversity of informed opinion on the concept of an establishment or a power elite in the United States provided the basis for this research. The specific question investi gated is as follows: "Who's running America?"
To provide a focus for this research, a hypothesis was formulated. This hypothesis is multifaceted. First, it is 3hypothesized that the United States is ruled by a single over riding national commitment, as opposed to a single establish ment or a group of power elites. Second, it is hypothesized that, although unarticulated as such, the single overriding national commitment of American society is strong and sustained economic growth. Third, it is hypothesized that composition of the group of power elites which exercise control in the country is determined on the basis of those institutions which (1) arewilling to dedicate their energies to promoting the national commitment of strong and sustained economic growth, and (2) possess the capacity to contribute significantly to the promo tion of the national commitment of strong and sustained eco nomic growth. Fourth, it is hypothesized that the group of power elites which exercises control in the United States is composed of (1) the federal government (specifically, elected political leaders in both the executive and legislative branches, and top level appointees in the executive, legisla tive, and judicial branches, and in the regulatory agency structure), (2) corporate America (specifically, chief execu tive officers and the boards of directors of the nation's largest corporations, which account for somewhat more than one half of the gross national product), and (3) major labor unions (specif...