1. Political Beliefs and Behaviors
Kelly Walker
AP US Government

2. Questions to Consider Do Americans trust their government?
Why do we accept great differences in wealth and income?
Why does our government behave differently than governments in countries with similar constitutions?

3. Political Culture
Basic values and assumptions that people have toward authority, the political system, and other overarching themes of political life.
A culture reflects the impact of history on a society’s beliefs.
(Widespread support of Shiite Islam is an important value supporting the continued rule of the Islamic Republic of Iran)
Halloween: Tradition-holiday

4. The US Political System: Political Culture
Liberty: Everyone has the right to choose
Equality: Equal vote and an equal chance to succeed
Democracy: Government should be accountable to the people
Civic Duty: Everyone should help when they can
Individual Responsibility: Individuals are responsible for their own actions and well-being
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
1963

5. The Big Three
How do we know that Americans share these beliefs? (can these values be proven?)
If these values are important to Americans, how can we explain the existence in our society of behavior that is obviously inconsistent with them?
If there is agreement among Americans on certain political values , why has there been so much political conflict in our history?

6. The Economic System Liberty in the economy
Americans are more willing to tolerate economic inequality
Equality of Opportunity not Equality of Results
(everyone has an opportunity to get ahead-It is ok for some with more ability to do well and for wages to be set on how hard people work, not on their economic need)
Economic Individuality
Personal Responsibility

7. Comparing America with other Nations
The political system: How does culture influence the decision making process?
Sweden- value equality more than liberty
US- value liberty more than equality
Civic duty: a belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs
Civic competence: a belief that one can affect government policies-

8. Comparing America with other Nations
Economic System
Sweden: Favor equality of results v. equality of opportunity
US: Favor equality of opportunity v. equality of results

9. Americans compared to other nations:
Think freedom is more important than equality
Hard work is rewarded
Government should have a small role in guaranteeing citizens a basic standard of living?
Less income inequality in Sweden than in the United States

10. Gini Index
Differences in national income equality around the world as measured by the national Gini coefficient. The Gini coefficient is a number between 0 and 1, where 0 corresponds with perfect equality (where everyone has the same income) and 1 corresponds with perfect inequality (where one person has all the income, and everyone else has zero income).

11. Inequality Around the World: Gini Index http://en. wikipedia
Country
Lowest 20%
Highest 20%
Ratio:
Gap between Rich and Poor
Japan
10.6
35.7
3.4
Germany
8.5
36.9
4.3
India
8.9
41.6
4.7
Canada
7.0
40.4
5.8
United Kingdom
6.1
44.0
7.2
United States
5.4
45.8
Russia
4.9
54.3
10.5
China
50.
Nigeria
4.4
55.7
12.7
Mexico
3.1
59.1
19.1
Brazil
2.0
64.4
32.2
South Africa
66.5
33.2

12. The Civic Role of Religion
Does separation of state and religion foster a greater belief in religion?
How does religion affect political culture?

13. Sources of Political Culture
American revolution Ideals: Liberty, freedom from Tyranny, assertion and maintenance of rights, distrust of authority and of people wielding power.
Religion: Human nature is depraved. No one is born innocent and therefore no one could be trusted with power. (Puritan)
Constitution had to curb human nature to protect natural rights.
Separate church and state- Cleavages between Catholic and Puritan ideology. Max Weber- “Rise of capitalism due to the Protestant Work Ethic”
Church’s develop their own political identity

14. Sources of Political Culture
The family- How Culture transmitted from one generation to another. (language, religious and political beliefs
“The combined affect of religious and ethnic diversity, an individualistic philosophy, fragmented political authority, and relatively egalitarian American family leads to an absence of a high degree of class consciousness- most are “middle class”.”
Media

16. A Common Political Culture
Why the conflict?
Values and interests- Not so much economic as social values.
A cultural war? Abortion, Gay Rights, Prayer in Public Schools, Pornography- also fragments religious groups
Orthodox- morality and religion ought to be of decisive importance
Progressive- personal freedom and solving social problems are more important than religion

17. Mistrust of Government
Mistrust Officials v. Government structure

18. Political Efficacy
Trust and faith in government and the belief that one can understand and influence political affairs, commonly measured by surveys and used as an indicator of the broader health of civil society.
Feelings of efficacy are highly correlated with participation in social and political life, however studies have not shown any relationship between public confidence in government or political leaders and voting; efficacy usually increases with age and education.

19. Political Tolerance
Political Culture must allow for discussion of ideas and the selection of rulers in an atmosphere free of oppression.
Does this always happen?
Role of Judiciary.