1. AMERICAN POLITICAL CULTURE American Political Ideals (Cont’d) May 21 th, 2003

2. Elements of American Political Culture libertyliberty egalitarianismegalitarianism –equality of opportunity mass democracy/populismmass democracy/populism individualism and individual responsibilityindividualism and individual responsibility voluntarismvoluntarism moral absolutismmoral absolutism patriotismpatriotism

3. POLITICAL CULTURE: Where Does It Come From? ImmigrationImmigration GeographyGeography

4. POLITICAL CULTURE: Where Does It Come From? HISTORICAL EVENTSHISTORICAL EVENTS –American Revolution patriotismpatriotism emphasized liberty and democracyemphasized liberty and democracy –American Civil War emphasized idea of “one nation”emphasized idea of “one nation”

5. POLITICAL CULTURE: Where Does It Come From? ECONOMYECONOMY –dynamic, rapidly growing economy –reinforced notions of equality of opportunity, individualism, and individual responsibility

6. POLITICAL CULTURE: Where Does It Come From? POLITICAL INSTITUTIONSPOLITICAL INSTITUTIONS –reflect political culture but also reinforce it –constitutional emphasis on individual rights and limited government –political practice emphasizing mass participation

7. POLITICAL CULTURE: Where Does It Come From? PLACE IN THE WORLDPLACE IN THE WORLD –major superpower doctrine of isolationism ultimately unsustainabledoctrine of isolationism ultimately unsustainable –reinforced patriotism and moral absolutism

8. Elements of American Political Culture libertyliberty egalitarianismegalitarianism –equality of opportunity mass democracy/populismmass democracy/populism individualism and individual responsibilityindividualism and individual responsibility voluntarismvoluntarism moral absolutismmoral absolutism patriotismpatriotism

9. Main Point! American politics is shaped by various values (sometimes contradictory) which arose out of the historical context in which the US political system developedAmerican politics is shaped by various values (sometimes contradictory) which arose out of the historical context in which the US political system developed –these values and the historical context have been self-reinforcing this political culture is widely shared and deeply embeddedthis political culture is widely shared and deeply embedded –commitment to these values is often shared by those critical of American political practice

11. AMERICAN FEDERALISM May 21, 2003

12. Establishing the Two Orders of Government -- Federalism Why Have a Federal Government?Why Have a Federal Government? – practical reasons – philosophical reasoning Why Maintain State Governments?Why Maintain State Governments? – practical reasons – philosophical reasoning

13. Level of Centralization Confederation Large Unitary Gov’t Federalism Decentralized Federation Centralized Federation US 2002 Small Unitary Gov’ts US 1789

14. Indicators of Centralization size of the federal governmentsize of the federal government –expenditures, programs, budgets federal grants-in-aid, mandatesfederal grants-in-aid, mandates –federal inducements/requirements that states undertake certain actions federal preemptionfederal preemption –regulation of interstate commerce

15. Centralization in Context examples of differences in the exercise of powers reserved for the statesexamples of differences in the exercise of powers reserved for the states –the death penalty –right to die (e.g. assisted suicide) –gun control –referendums/initiatives

16. American Federalism explanations of centralizationexplanations of centralization – idea of “one nation” E Pluribus Unum E Pluribus Unum American civil war American civil war citizen demands for rights to be extended equally across the nation citizen demands for rights to be extended equally across the nation – representation of state interests within the national government as opposed to representation through relations between state governments and national government the Senate! the Senate!

17. The New Federalism the devolution revolutionthe devolution revolution –1980-2002 –peaked in 1994 with Contract with America

18. The “New” Federalism 1980-2000 (Confederation) Large Unitary Gov’t Federalism Decentralized Federation Centralized Federation US 1980 Small Unitary Gov’ts

19. The Devolution Revolution causes and underlying issuescauses and underlying issues –about limiting government –still about issues relating to racialized politics e.g. welfare reforme.g. welfare reform

20. The Devolution Revolution Thoedore LowiThoedore Lowi –devolution is about dual federalism and dual citizenship –proponents of devolution believe... states rights should predominate on issues of race, class and genderstates rights should predominate on issues of race, class and gender this was the case from 1930-1960 but was abrogated during the 1960s and 1970sthis was the case from 1930-1960 but was abrogated during the 1960s and 1970s devolution is an attempt to return to the proper state of thingsdevolution is an attempt to return to the proper state of things –explains idiosyncratic patterns of federal vs. state dominance

21. Main Message! federalism...federalism... –not simply a technical issue about which gov’t is best placed to do what –involves philosophical questions regarding the overall role of government including issues of race!including issues of race!