American Political Culture: Seeking a More Perfect Union

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American Political CultureSeeking a More
Perfect Union

• Chapter 1

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• What is American?
• What does America represent?
• Who is an American?
• How do you describe what it means to be an
  American?
• How is America different from other countries?

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How do you know an American when you see them?

• What do they look like?
• What kind of accent do they have?
• Do they all speak the same language?
• According to your book, pg. 7, what makes
  Americans different from other nationalities?
• If we are not linked by the same heritage, how
  are we linked?

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Americas Core Ideals The Foundation of
American Politics

• They are
• Liberty
• Equality
• Self-government
• Individualism
• Diversity
• Unity

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What is an IDEAL?

• Ideals are those things which we strive for, and
  continue to strive for, even though we come up
  short sometimes.

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How do these Ideals Shape America and its people?

• They help to define who or what is American.
  Instead of ancestry as a common bond, Americans
  have these ideals that bind us together as a
  people.
• These ideals help make up Americas POLITICAL
  CULTURE.

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Political Culture Core Principles of American
Govt.

• Why was it, and still is, important that
  Americans have common ideals?
• America has a very strong political culture that
  helps it endure. Your book describes political
  culture as the characteristic and deep-seated
  beliefs of a particular people about government
  and politics.
• So what is the difference between politics and a
  political culture?

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• Where did many of Americas ideas of government
  come from? Why?
• Many of our ideals and similar to those of
  England, but some are different. Why? Give an
  example of how Americans wanted to be different
  from England?

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Core Values Liberty, Equality,
Self-government

• Liberty freedom to act and think as one chooses
  but no infringement on freedom of others
• Equality all individuals equal in worth, legal
  treatment, and political voice
• Self-government people are ultimate source of
  governing authority

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LIBERTY the principle that individuals should
be free to act and think as they choose, provided
they do not infringe unreasonably on the rights
and freedoms of others.

• In America, the individual comes first, and the
  government second. The government serves the
  people. The people do not serve the government.
  At least that is the ideal.
• Now, what does liberty mean in your own words?
• How has Americas definition of liberty changed
  through the years? (pg. 9)

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• What did liberty mean at the time of the writing
  of the Constitutions (1787)? Pg. 9
• What Amendment reflects this attitude?
• What happened that changed this perception of
  liberty?
• The Industrial Revolution changed how Americans
  perceived liberty in what way?
• How did the American Government respond?

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EQUALITY the notion that all individuals are
equal in their moral worth, in their treatment
under the law, and in their political voice.

• What is equality? Does it mean that wealth
  should be divided equally? Or does it mean that
  everyone should have equal opportunities to
  obtain wealth?
• The concept of equality is very hard to pinpoint.
  It means different things to different people.
• Are people actually born equal with equal
  opportunities? Does the government help to put
  everyone on equal standing?

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Self-government the principle that the people
are the ultimate source and proper beneficiary of
governing authority in practice, a government
based on majority rule.

• Governments derive their powers form the consent
  of the governed.
• Why did Americans believe so strongly in
  self-government? What in history shaped this
  ideal? (pg. 10)
• In what way does America practice Self
  Government? (pg. 11)
• The US has an unbroken history of free and open
  elections as the legitimate means of acquiring
  governmental power.

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INDIVIDUALISM the idea that people should take
the initiative, be self-sufficient, and
accumulate the material advantages necessary for
their well-being.

• Look on page 12. What do the percentages have to
  do with Americas view of welfare?
• How has Americas strong belief in individualism
  played a defining role in Americas welfare
  system?
• How do we compare with Europes welfare system?

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INDIVIDUALISM

• Makes up a HUGE part of America Culture.
• Why do you think individualism became so
  prevalent in American culture? Think about our
  forefathers and colonists. Pg. 11
• People should help themselves.
• How does Americas strong preference for
  individualism shape Americans definition of
  Equality?

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Emphasis on Individualism More Emphasis on
Equal Opportunity

• Look at the chart on pg. 14
• Why does America have so many Universitys and
  colleges?
• Every state has at least how many colleges within
  its boundaries? Pg. 14
• Why do northeaster and western costal states have
  a higher percentage of adults with college
  degrees?

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And Last but not least Unity
and Diversity

• Unity The principle that Americans are one
  people and form an indivisible union.
• Diversity The principle that individual groups
  and differences should be respected and are a
  source of national strength
• Do these two principles ever collide?

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Power of Ideals

• Influences reasonable and desirable behaviors
• Individualism?less support of social welfare.
• Source of personal successpersonal effort
• High ideals?political and social change

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Limits of Ideals

• America has ideals that it strives for but does
  not reach.
• High ideals do not come with a guarantee that a
  people will live up to them.
• What are some examples where America has failed
  to live up to its ideals? (pg. 15)
• Why is conflict between Americas ideals
  inevitable? Give an example. (pg. 17)
• Ideals are a source of human aspiration and,
  ultimately, of political and social change.

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Is America really a Melting Pot?

• First, what does that mean?
• Second, how is it like a melting pot.and, how is
  it not?
• Describe what is meant if we say America is a
  salad bowl?
• Why is it that America often falls short of its
  ideals? Pg. 17

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Limits of Ideals How America falls short.

• Do immigration laws discriminate?
• How did September 11th change America in relation
  to its ideals?
• Pros and cons of affirmative action
• Are all people really treated equally? Different
  races, sexes, and people of differing wealth?
  Pg. 15

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Political Conflict

• POLITICS DEFINED
• The process through which a society makes its
  governing decisions.
• A struggle for power and advantage
• A struggle over who gets what, when, and how.
• A process through which a society settles its
  conflicts.

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Political Conflict

• There are 2 major sources of political conflict
• Scarcity Never enough of something to go
  around.
• Differences in value people see issues
  differently and therefore have different ways to
  solve the same problem. (pg. 18)
• Why do these two things cause so much conflict?

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Social Contract

• What does it mean? Pg. 19
• What great philosopher should we associate the
  theory of Social Contract with? Pg. 19
• Hobbes thinks life in its natural state is what?
  Pg. 20
• Locke believed that all individuals have certain
  NATURAL rights. What does that mean? Pg. 20
• How did this help spark the American Revolution?
  And how is this idea present in our Constitution?

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The Rules of American Politics

• Democracy
• Constitutionalism
• Capitalism
• These rules are used to help establish a
  political process that is intended to promote
  self-government, defend individual rights, and
  protect property.

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DEMOCRACY A form of government in which the
people govern, either directly or through elected
representatives.

• We want ordinary people to have a voice in
  government.
• How can people govern directly? Indirectly?
• What is an oligarchy? Pg. 21
• What is an autocracy?
• What must you have in order to have legitimate
  governmental authority?
• THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE BEING GOVERNED!

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CONSTITUTIONALISM The idea that there are
definable limits on the rightful power of a
government over its citizens.

• Democracy taken to the extreme would allow the
  majority to oppress the minority legitimately!
• That is why we had to have a Constitution to
  protect the rights of ALL people, regardless if
  they are in the minority or majority.
• Constitutionalism is a set of rules that
  restricts the lawful uses of power.
• What is an example of a constitutional limit on
  the government? Pg. 22.

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CAPITALISM An economic system based on the idea
that government should interfere with economic
transactions as little as possible. Free
enterprise and self-reliance are the collective
and individual principles that underpin
capitalism.

• What is the difference between socialism and
  communism? Pg. 23
• Capitalism responds to wealth. IEMONEY TALKS
• Politics responds to those with money.
• Economics is a private realm in America.
  Government is involved only on the fringe.
• Why are most Americans so against the idea of
  Capitalism? What Ideal does this conflict with?
• What is good about capitalism? What is bad? Pg.
  25

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Who has the power in America?

• What is political power? (pg. 25)
• What is public policy?
• How is America different from a Totalitarian
  government? From a Authoritarian government?
• Why in America would it be almost impossible for
  one person or entity to have complete control?
  (pg. 26)

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Who or What has political authority in America?

• Individuals politicians, heads of
  organizations, military leaders
• Organizations NRA, MADD, etc.
• What is authority????
• The recognized right of an individual or
  institution to exercise power.
• Why does the government need coercive power? (pg.
  26) Why does giving government coercive power
  alarm some people?

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Theories of Power Who DOES have power in
America???

• There are several theories that are used to help
  describe who has power in America. All of them
  hold some truth, but none of them gives a truly
  accurate answer.
• The theories are
• Majoritarianism Government by the people
• Pluralism Government by Groups
• Elitism Government by a Few
• Bureaucratic Government by Administrators

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Majoritarianism Government by the People

• The Majority of people in America determine
  public policy.
• When does the majority rule? Example? Pg. 28
• When does the majority not rule? Pg. 28

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Pluralism Government by Groups

• Diverse Groups hold the power in America
• For Example Farmers will yield power over the
  agricultural policy in America because they are
  most directly effected, and therefore most
  concerned with what the policies are.
• Pluralists see society as primarily a collection
  of separate interests.
• What do critics of Pluralism argue? (pg. 30)

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Elitism Government by a Few

• Believes that well positioned, highly influential
  individuals hold all the power.
• Examples corporate executives, top military
  officers, and centrally placed public officials.
• What is an example of Elitism at work? (pg. 30)

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Bureaucratic Rule Government by Administrators

• Experienced administrators in particular fields
  wield all the governmental power.
• Basically, the government is divided into
  separate interests. Those interests are dealt
  with on a day to day basis by governmental
  organizations. (For example, on the local level,
  DEFACS) The organization will look to its leaders
  (the administrators) to make decisions that
  effect the way their organization operates.
  Therefore, the administrators decisions in effect
  will directly impact American public policy.
• Why is this scary?? (pg. 31)

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Concept of a Political System

• Political Systemparts of American government
• Parts are separate
• Parts connect with each other
• Parts affect and interact with each other
• Dynamic system, changing as needed

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The American Political System
Figure 1-5
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American Political System

• Five overriding tendencies
• Enduring cultural ideals
• Fragmentation of governance based on checks and
  balances
• Competition between diverse groups
• Emphasis on individual rights and
  responsibilities
• Economic political decision making
  separate?economic issues out of political control

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How Americans Compare
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All of what we have discussed helps to make our
Political System.

• Everything that we have discussed will be touched
  on and further explained as we continue on with
  the course. Tonight we laid the foundation for
  everything you will learn in Political Science
  101. From here on out everything we learn will
  have a connection to what we learned today.