1.  Many American citizens’ first experience with democracy is a school election, sometimes as early as in elementary school.  Political scientists use the term political culture to refer to the widely shared beliefs, values, and norms citizens hold about their relationship to government and to one another.  American political culture centers on democratic values. Defining the American Political Culture Students should identify the most important elements of and sources for the American political culture.

2. Shared Values Before the American and French Revolutions discussions about individual liberty, freedom, equality, private property, limited government, and popular consent were rare. The founders of our nation claimed that individuals have certain natural rights. During this same period the economic system was changing from a mercantile system to a free market system. Defining the American Political Culture

3. The American Political Culture  Shared Values  Liberty  Equality  Individualism  Respect for the Common Person  Democratic Consensus  Justice and the Rule of Law  Nationalism, Optimism, and Idealism

4. The American Political Culture (continue)  The American Dream – a set of ideas holding that the U.S. is a land of opportunity and that individual initiative and hard work bring economic success  Political and Economic Change – political values are affected by historic and economic developments: a.The Industrial Transformation b.Development of large corporations c.The Great Depression & the New Deal d.The Global economy

5. Political Socialization  The way people acquire their political values.  Family members.  School and peers.  Media, especially television.  Religion.  Demographics: race, ethnicity, gender, age, and region.  Outside events.

6. Most Americans share all but one of the following values a.Religion b.Free enterprise c.Big business d.Free press

7. Americans for the most part do not believe in a.pragmatism b.free speech c.active political participation d.passive government

8. Americans do not believe in a.self help b.government regulations c.socialism d.a class system

9. Americans believe that this condition is necessary to make the system work. a.unemployment b.discrimination c.education d.uniformity of belief

10. The most important source of the American political culture is the a.mass media b.family c.schools d.church or synagogue

11. Political scientists believe that college attendance has which of the following socializing effects on young people? a.College attendance makes people less likely to share their family’s political views. b.College attendance makes young people more conservative. c.College attendance has no effect on political knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. d.College attendance makes young people more liberal.

12. Political culture refers to shared a.beliefs b.values c.norms d.all of the above

13. The American dream consists of a.enthusiasm for capitalism b.competitive markets c.equality of income d.all of these

14. In the American system of values, the role of the government is to a.serve the people b.protect the nation c.regulate markets d.guarantee equality

15. Political Ideology and Attitudes Toward Government Liberalism Contemporary Liberals 1.Favor individual rights, rights to own private property 2.Willing to have government intervention in the economy 3.Advocate equal access to social services & protections 4.Support Affirmative Action & equality of opportunity 5.Prefer tax rates that rise with income

16. Political Ideology and Attitudes Toward Government Criticisms of Liberalism 1.Rely too much on government solutions 2.Rely too much on higher taxes 3.Rely too much on bureaucracy 4.Undermine individual initiative, entrepreneurial spirit, self reliance, self help ethics the U.S. was founded on

17. Political Ideology and Attitudes Toward Government Conservatism Traditional Conservatives 1.Emphatically pro-business 2.Against taxes 3.Oppose most trade, antitrust, and environmental regulations 4.Dispersed government power 5.Limited government services

18. Political Ideology and Attitudes Toward Government Social Conservatives (New Right) 1.Less focused on economics 2.More focused on morality and lifestyle 3.Favor strong government action in a.Protection of children from drugs & pornography b.Limiting abortions c.Defending freedom and American interests abroad

19. Political Ideology and Attitudes Toward Government Criticism of Conservatives 1.Don’t want big government unless it serves its needs or to counter social evils 2.Places too much faith on market economy 3.Tax cuts for the rich at the expense of bigger deficits for defense spending 4.Fail to endorse policies against racism and sexism

20. Political Ideology and Attitudes Toward Government Environmentalism 1.On social issues the so-called Green movement is similar to liberal a.Favor grassroots democracy b.Favor social justice, feminism c.Support equal opportunity, nonviolence, & respect for diversity 2.Emphasize the ecology & the environment

21. Political Ideology and Attitudes Toward Government American Socialism 1.Favor economic & governmental systems based on public ownership 2.Prefer expanded role of government 3.Favor nationalization of certain industries 4.Support public programs 5.Support taxing the rich & reducing defense spending American Communism: A political, social, & economic system in which land & capital are collectively owned & political power is exercised by the masses.

22. Political Ideology and Attitudes Toward Government Libertarianism 1.Cherish individual liberties 2.Favor sharp government limitations a.Limit defense to national defense only and all government regulations 3.Oppose all public programs 4.Favor extensive government spending cuts a.Support elimination of FBI, CIA, regulatory commissions b.Oppose participation in international bodies, i.e. United Nations 5.Resemble anarchism to some extent

23. A more radical brand of Conservatism has recently emerged called a.Contemporary Liberals b.Libertarians c.New Right d.Greens

24. Which one of the following groups wants the least government a.Libertarians b.Conservatives c.Liberals d.Socialists

25. Which group demands the most government a.Greens b.Conservatives c.Liberals d.Socialists

26. Those who favor expansion of government control over drinking, drugs, abortion, prayer, and life style are the a.New Right b.Conservatives c.Liberals d.Libertarians

27. Political Ideology and Attitudes Toward Government (continue) A Word of Caution Political labels have different meanings. Ideology both causes events and is affected by it. Unlike in 2000 and 2004, the 2008 election produced a winner with a large enough majority in the popular vote and electoral college to claim a mandate.

28. The most important source of the American political culture is the a.mass media b.family c.schools d.church or synagogue

30. Differences in Political Ideology Moderate Liberal Male Female 23% 24 20 % 22 Conservative 39% 31 Sex Race White Black Asian Hispanic 39 18 24 21 22 202636 Undecided 18% 23 17 39 18 32202522 SOURCE: Center for Political Studies, University of Michigan, 2008, American National Election Study Guide to Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior.

31. Differences in Political Ideology Moderate Liberal Conservative Age 18-34 35-45 46-55 56-64 26% 36 37 38 45 24% 26 23 21 18 28% 16 17 26 16 Religion Protestant Undecided 23% 20 15 SOURCE: Center for Political Studies, University of Michigan, 2008, American National Election Study Guide to Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior.

32. Differences in Political Ideology Moderate Liberal Conservative Religion Catholic Jewish Education 31% 26 25 29 38 28% 12 20 27 25 18 63 14 11 22 Less than high school High school diploma Some college Undecided 23% 0 42 33 15 SOURCE: Center for Political Studies, University of Michigan, 2008, American National Election Study Guide to Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior.

33. Differences in Political Ideology Moderate Liberal Conservative Education 42% 45 13 14 21% 14 27 35 32% 39 37 11 Bachelor’s degree Advanced degree Party Democrat Independent 70 15 5 Republican 11 Undecided 40 23 3 5% SOURCE: Center for Political Studies, University of Michigan, 2008, American National Election Study Guide to Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior.

34. Political Ideology &the American People 1.Ideology has economic, social/lifestyle, environmental, civil rights/civil liberties, and foreign/defense policy dimensions. 2.In the United States, most people are moderates or report not knowing whether they are liberal or conservative. 3.The absence of widespread and solidified liberal and conservative positions in the United States makes for politics and policymaking processes that are markedly different from those in most nations.

35. Political Ideology &the American People 4.Policy making in this country is characterized more by ad hoc coalitions than by fixed alignments that pit one set of ideologies against another. 5.This does not mean that policies or ideas are not important in American politics. 6.Ideologies have consequences.