Chapter 4 American Political Culture

Copyright © 2013 Cengage WHO GOVERNS? WHO GOVERNS? 1. Do Americans trust their government? 2. Why do we accept great differences in wealth and income? TO WHAT ENDS? TO WHAT ENDS? 1. Why does our government behave differently than governments in countries with similar constitutions?

Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Political Culture Political culture is a patterned and sustained way of thinking about how political and economic life ought to be carried out. Copyright © 2013 Cengage Alexis de Tocqueville wrote Democracy in America, a profound analysis of our political culture. The Granger Collection

Political Culture Copyright © 2013 Cengage At the height of immigration to this country, there was a striking emphasis on creating a shared political culture. Schoolchildren, whatever their national origin, were taught to salute this country’s flag. Underwood & Underwood/CORBIS

Political Culture The Political System The Political System The Persistence of Conflict The Persistence of Conflict The Economic System The Economic System Copyright © 2013 Cengage

The Political System Three Questions Concerning The American Political System: Three Questions Concerning The American Political System: 1. How do we know that the American people share these beliefs? 2. How can we explain the existence in our society of behavior that is obviously in conflict with these beliefs? 3. Why has there been so much political conflict in our history? Copyright © 2013 Cengage

The Persistence of Conflict In the 1950s Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin was the inspiration for the world “McCarthyism” after his highly publicized attacks on alleged communists working in the federal government. In the 1950s Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin was the inspiration for the world “McCarthyism” after his highly publicized attacks on alleged communists working in the federal government. Copyright © 2013 Cengage Topham/The Image Works

Copyright © 2013 Cengage Source: Jack Citrin, et al., “Testing Huntington,” Perspectives on Politics, 5 (2007), 43. Data are from 2004 National Election Survey.

The Economic System Americans tend to support: Americans tend to support: 1. The “free enterprise system” 2. Government regulations that keep some firms from becoming too powerful and to correct specific abuses 3. “Equality of opportunity”, but not “equality of results” Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Comparing America with Other Nations Copyright © 2013 Cengage

The Political System Copyright © 2013 Cengage Sources: World Values Survey Wave 4; International Social Survey Program National Identity Module II (2003–2004)

Copyright © 2013 Cengage Comparing America with Other Nations The Political System The Political System The Economic System The Economic System The Civic Role of Religion The Civic Role of Religion A chaplain offers a prayer at a meeting of the U.S. Congress. Though having such a chaplain may strike you as violating the separation of church and state, the Supreme Court has upheld it on grounds of “tradition.” Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly/Alamy

The Economic System United States Less likely to believe in giving workers equal pay Less likely to believe in giving workers equal pay Less likely to favor putting a top limit on income Less likely to favor putting a top limit on income Ratio between the income of an executive vs. menial worker: 15 to 1 Ratio between the income of an executive vs. menial worker: 15 to 1 Sweden More likely to believe in giving workers equal pay More likely to believe in giving workers equal pay More likely to favor putting a top limit on income More likely to favor putting a top limit on income Ratio between the income of an executive vs. menial worker: 2 to 1 Ratio between the income of an executive vs. menial worker: 2 to 1 Copyright © 2013 Cengage

The Civic Role of Religion Average American compared to the average European is more likely to: Average American compared to the average European is more likely to: 1. Believe in God 2. Pray on a daily basis 3. Acknowledge clear standards of right and wrong Religious people in the US: Religious people in the US: 1. Donate more money to charities than secular folks 2. More likely to give money and donate time to non-religious organizations than secular folks Copyright © 2013 Cengage

The Sources of Political Culture Personal Liberty vs. Social Control Personal Liberty vs. Social Control Class Consciousness Class Consciousness The Culture War The Culture War Orthodox – a belief that morality and religion ought to be of decisive importance.Orthodox – a belief that morality and religion ought to be of decisive importance. Progressive – a belief that personal freedom and solving social problems are more important than religion.Progressive – a belief that personal freedom and solving social problems are more important than religion.

Copyright © 2013 Cengage People stomp on a police officer in Rome as part of their demand for a change in the Italian government. Union members protest Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s plan to restrict their collective bargaining rights. They did not stomp on a police officer.. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images

Figure 4.2 Trust in the Federal Government, 1958–2004 Copyright © 2013 Cengage p. 90 Source: University of Michigan, The American National Election Studies.

Copyright © 2013 Cengage Source: Gallup Poll

Mistrust of Government Civil society is that collection of private, voluntary groups that – independent of the government and the commercial market – make human cooperation easier and provide ways of holding the government accountable for its actions. Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Figure 4.3 The American Civic Health Index, 2009 Copyright © 2013 Cengage Source: America’s Civic Health Index: Broken Engagement (Washington, D.C.: National Citizenship Conference and Saguaro Seminar, September 2006), p. 6. Reprinted by permission of the National Conference of Citizenship.

Political Tolerance In order for democracy to work, citizens must have a political culture that allows the discussion of ideas and the selection of rulers in an atmosphere reasonably free of oppression. In order for democracy to work, citizens must have a political culture that allows the discussion of ideas and the selection of rulers in an atmosphere reasonably free of oppression. Copyright © 2013 Cengage

MEMORANDUM To: White House Chief of Staff Omar McField From: Secretary of Education, Alexandra Clark Subject: Civic education in schools The decline in political knowledge that Americans have about our governmental system is alarming. We need to work in partnership with Congress and the states to promote civic education in secondary schools. In her upcoming state of the union message, the President needs to make a case for high school civics education and endorse the creation of a bipartisan task force to develop guidelines for such classes. Copyright © 2013 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments for: 1. A recent survey finds that only about six of ten Americans can name the vice president and more than half believe incorrectly that the Supreme Court prohibits public school classes that compare religions. 2. Schools have a responsibility to teach students the principles of American constitutionalism, such as federalism and separation of church and state. 3. If the federal government does not take the initiative in promoting civics education, then states will develop their own standards, which will weaken understanding of our shared political principles. Copyright © 2013 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments against: 1. Civics education needs to be incorporated into existing courses, not taught separately. 2. Individuals need to take responsibility for understanding the political system in which they live. 3. Based on their individual historical experiences, states are better prepared than the federal government to determine how the underlying principles of American politics should be taught in their classrooms. Copyright © 2013 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Your decision: Support ? Oppose ? Copyright © 2013 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?