1. American Political Culture: Seeking A More Perfect Union
AP American Government
Chapter 1
American Political Culture:
Seeking A More Perfect Union

3. American Ideals Justice Equality Compassion
Courtesy Freedom Generosity
Integrity Opportunity Patriotism
Scholarship Service Tolerance

4. American Political Culture
American Political Culture- centers on a set of core ideals – liberty, self-government, individualism, equality, diversity, and unity.
Americans are not bound by kinship / blood – We all have different ancestry. French are French are because they are French. It is the American ideals that bind our nation.
The United States was abruptly formed in 1776 on a set of principles that became its people common bond.
Political Culture – characteristic and deep-seeded beliefs of a particular people.
** Shaped by European thought and practice (Enlightenment Period)
** Basis of the Declaration of Independence / Constitution

5. America’s Core Values
Liberty – Individuals should be free to act and think as they choose, provided they do not infringe unreasonably on the rights and freedoms of others.
Declaration of Independence – “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”
The Preamble To the Constitution – government founded to secure “the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity”
The Star Spangled Banner – “Land of the Free”
** Liberty was conceived as protection against unwarranted government interference in people’s lives. The First Amendment is part of the protection of every citizens personal liberties.

6. America’s Core Values
Equality – all individuals are equal in their moral worth, in their treatment under the law, and their political voice.
Thomas Jefferson – Declaration of Independence – “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” (Elizabeth Cady Stanton – men / women created equal)
Jefferson professed that he did not know the exact meaning of the term Equality – that can be seen in the fact that he was a slave owner. He distinguished between free citizens, who were entitled to equal rights, and slaves who were not. Jefferson also said his greatest accomplishment was designing and founding the University of Virginia.
?? Do poor people accused of a crime have access to the same quality of legal assistance that is available to rich. They do have access through state legal counsel, is it as good?

7. America’s Core Values
Self – Government – the people are the ultimate source and proper beneficiary of governing authority.
Lincoln – Gettysburg Address – government “of the People, by the People, for the People.”
The Constitution – Opening statement - “We the people”
Alexander Hamilton – “Here, sir, the people govern.”

8. Other Core Values
Individualism – commitment to personal initiative, self-sufficiency, and material accumulation.
Unity – Americans are one people and form an indivisible union.
Diversity – individual and group differences should be respected / source of national strength.

9. Ideals
Ideals – Mythic ideas / not perfect representations of facts (Ex. – Civil Rights)
1619 – First African slaves arrive
Civil War ends slavery – not racial oppression
1965 – Chinese / Asians / Hispanics removed from U.S. Immigration Laws
American Ideals are general principles / not fixed rules of conduct

10. Politics
Process through which a society settles conflicts – “who gets what, when, and how.”
Struggle for power and advantage.
Differences in values are the main source of political conflict.

11. Social Contract – agreement by individuals to form government – then act in the confines of it.
Thomas Hobbes – surrender freedoms for protection
John Locke – people agree to be governed to safeguard their rights and property.
Philosophy of Locke / Hobbes sparked the American Revolution (1776) / Constitution (1787)

12. Major Rules of American Politics
Democracy
Constitutionalism
Capitalism

13. Democracy
Democracy – set of rules to give ordinary people a significant voice in government .
(Demos – the people / Kratis – to rule)
Legitimate authority stems from the consent of the governed.
Extreme fragmentation of governing authority is a defining characteristic of the American system (Ex. – System of Checks and Balances – No power domination

14. Constitutionalism
Definable limits of power a government has over its citizens.
Basis of democracy is the will of the majority should prevail over the minority.
Constitutionalism protects our individuals rights – (Ex. Free Speech / Patriot Act / Governmental Spying)

15. Capitalism
Government should interfere with the economy as little as possible.
Free enterprise and self – reliance are principles that underpin capitalism

16. Democracy – responds to numbers (will of the majority)
Constitutionalism – responds to individual rights
Capitalism – responds to wealth (wealthy people will have the greater say in economics / politics)
Americans pay less taxes than any other 1st world country.

17. Power – those individuals who decide how society will be governed
* Power – those individuals who decide how society will be governed. (Decide Public Policy)
* Authority – recognized right of an individual or institution to exercise power. government needs coercive power to ensure that its laws will be obeyed. Without that coercive power / lawlessness would prevail.

18. to gain full political control.
“Federalist # 10”
James Madison
Government is most
dangerous when a
single group is able
to gain full political control.

19. 4 Theories of Political Power
1. Majoritarianism: Government by the people / majority prevails in voting / public policy.
2. Pluralism : Government by groups / see society as primarily a collection of interest.
Critics argue that special interest groups would set public policy / A small # of powerful groups would set public policy.

20. 4 Theories of Political Power
3. Elitism : Government by a few / power held by a small number of well positioned, highly influential individuals.
Ex. – Monetary Policy – set by the Fed.
4. Bureaucratic Rule : Government by administrators / power resides with career government bureaucrats.

21. Parts of the American Government are
Political System
Parts of the American Government are
separate / connected.

22. Inputs – includes public opinion, voting,
Inputs – includes public opinion, voting, political parties, interest groups. News media
(demands people and organization place on government)
Political Institutions - Congress, the Presidency, the Judiciary, and the bureaucracy (Policy making systems)
Outputs – Laws, economic / social / defense / foreign policy
(Policy decisions are binding on society)