Thomas E. Patterson

By Diane Feibel, Ed.D.

Chapter 1 3© 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.

Learning to Think Politically Political thinking: Involves the careful gathering and sifting of information to form a knowledgeable view about a political issue Important for responsible citizenship © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.4

Learning to Think Politically Barriers to political thinking Main barrier: unwillingness of citizens to make the effort to self-inform Changes in media consumption: more people consume biased cable television and Internet blogs “Spin” by political leaders and government entities Research shows faulty perceptions becoming more prevalent © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.5

Learning to Think Politically What political science can contribute to political thinking Political science: the systematic study of government and politics A descriptive and analytical discipline; can increase ability to think politically © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.6

Learning to Think Politically What political science can contribute to political thinking Political science can provide deeper analysis Shows that America’s culture of individualism was important obstacle to whole-scale healthcare reform Individualistic culture has roots in colonial wilderness society Polls shows continued strength of individualism © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.7

Political Culture: Americans’ Enduring Beliefs Political culture: Derived from a country’s traditions Defines the relationship between citizens and government America’s core ideals are rooted in the European heritage of the first white settlers © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.8

Political Culture: Americans’ Enduring Beliefs Core political values: Liberty Individualism Equality Self-government © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.9

Political Culture: Americans’ Enduring Beliefs Core political values Liberty Individuals should be free to act as they choose Unsettled land fostered freedom through migration Many fled Europe to escape religious persecution © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.10

Political Culture: Americans’ Enduring Beliefs Core political values Individualism The individual is paramount; government is secondary Government’s role is to serve the people Tocqueville: Americans’ chief aim is to “remain their own masters” © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.11

Political Culture: Americans’ Enduring Beliefs Core political values Equality European aristocratic privilege versus American equal treatment under the law Perplexing ideal in the early years of the nation: Some were free while others were enslaved Differing opinions on the meaning of equality persist © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.12

Political Culture: Americans’ Enduring Beliefs Core political values Self-government American colonials had substantial self-determination Vision of a self governing nation with powers “…from the consent of the governed” © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.13

Political Culture: Americans’ Enduring Beliefs The limits and power of America’s ideals America’s cultural beliefs are idealistic Failures to meet the high ideals: Slavery Post-slavery “Jim Crow” era Racial immigration and property restrictions © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.14

Political Culture: Americans’ Enduring Beliefs The limits and power of America’s ideals Reaching to meet the high ideals: Abolition and suffrage movements Emancipation Civil rights movement Public education Higher education © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.15

© 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.16 Insert Table 1-1 Americans’ Preferences in Teaching Children about the Nation’s History

Politics and Power in America Politics: the means by which society settles its conflicts and allocates the resulting benefits and costs Power: the ability of persons, groups, or institutions to influence political developments Authoritarian and totalitarian governments: nondemocratic, repressive regime types © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.17

© 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.18 Insert Table 1-2 Governing Systems and Political Power

Politics and Power in America A democratic system System in which the people govern, by direct or representative means In practice, majority rule through the free and open election of representatives Majoritarianism: the majority effectively determines what government does © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.19

Politics and Power in America A democratic system Pluralism: the preference of the special interest that largely determines what government does Authority: the recognized right of officials to exercise power © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.20

Politics and Power in America A constitutional system The Constitution: elaborate checks and balances, Bill of Rights Constitutionalism: idea that there are lawful restrictions on government’s power Restraints on majority power Judicial action channel through which ordinary citizens can exercise power © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.21

© 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.22 Insert Figure 1-1 Legal Action and Lawyers

Politics and Power in America A free market system Operates mainly on private transactions Some government intervention through regulatory, taxing, and spending policies Tax rate much lower in U.S. than in European countries Corporate power: influence firms have over policymakers Elitism: power exercised by the influential few © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.23

Politics and Power in America Who does govern? Defining characteristic of American politics: widespread sharing of power Women and minorities initially excluded; their power will steadily grow over time © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.24

The Text’s Organization The constitutional system The political role of citizens and intermediaries Governing officials, the elective institutions, and their appointive bodies Focus on public policies throughout book Focus on difficulty of governing effectively, and how important it is to try © 2014, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.25