Introduction: The Citizen and Government Chapter 1

American Political Culture

Government in Daily Life Protects citizens –Police, fire department, national security, regulations on food and prescription drugs Provides services to all –Highways, schools, libraries, student loans

Government in Daily Life Trust: Americans are hesitant to grant government too much power. –However, Americans usually support government during wartime. –Government granted more power in times of crisis Stock market crash of 1929 Recession of 2008

Citizenship: Knowledge and Participation Citizenship: informed and active membership in a political community American government is predicated on a citizenry that is: – informed and active –keeps leaders aware of their preferences –holds elected officials accountable at elections Voting is the “building block” of citizenship

Citizenship: Knowledge and Participation Political knowledge –People will not believe they can affect government if they don’t know much about it. Americans are not very knowledgeable about their government.

Government Government: institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled. Two defining features of government –Who governs? –How much power is granted to the government?

Government Totalitarian governments recognize no limits on their authority. Authoritarian governments recognize no limits on their authority, but they are constrained by other institutions such as business or a church. Constitutional governments are limited both in what they can do (substantive limits) and the methods they can employ (procedural limits).

Politics Politics: conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments –Representative democracy (republic) Governments are run by elected officials who represent the interests of their constituents. –Direct democracy Citizens themselves vote on all legislation. –Town meetings, referenda

Who Are Americans? America is an immigrant nation, meaning the government sets policy to determine whom it allows in and who is eligible for citizenship. This decision is highly political. Changed many times over the course of American history

Immigration by Continent of Origin

Who Are Americans? First census did not count Native Americans Until WWII, Americans saw biological distinctions between people of different ethnicities. Immigration policy was shaped to admit “desirable” races –Until 1870, nonwhites could not naturalize. –Chinese Exclusion Act 1882–1943

Who Are Americans? Twenty-first century Americans –1965, Congress lifted limitations on immigration set in place in the 1920s –Resulted in new waves of immigration from Asia and Latin America 2010 population (U.S. Census) –White: 64 percent –Asian: 5 percent –Black: 13 percent –Latino: 16 percent

Who Are Americans? Age distribution of the population can have a profound impact on politics. –Different age groups have very different needs for public services. –Different age groups vote differently. Rural versus urban populations Regional concerns –Declining manufacturing jobs in Midwest and Northeast

American Political Culture If Americans do not share a common blood line or religious or ethnic heritage, what unites the nation? –Liberty –Equality –Democracy

American Political Culture Liberty: freedom from governmental control –Personal freedom –Economic freedom The Bill of Rights

American Political Culture Equality –Equality of opportunity Difficult to define What about past inequalities? –Political equality One person, one vote

American Political Culture Democracy –People choose their rulers and have some say over what those rulers do. –When ultimate power rests with the citizenry, this is called “popular sovereignty.” –In America, the people are sovereign and majority rules, but the individual rights of the minority are still protected.

American Political Culture The ideals of liberty, equality, and democracy can cause conflict. –Used by different groups to justify their actions –Concepts change over time –“Works in progress”

Public Opinion Poll How much would you say the work and decisions of the federal government affects what happens in your life? a)Not at all b)A little c)A moderate amount d)A lot e)A great deal

Public Opinion Poll Do you believe our government should do more, the same, or less for the citizens of our country? a)More b)About the same c)Less d)No opinion

Public Opinion Poll How much of the time do you think you can trust the federal government to do what is right and fair? a)Just about always b)Most of the time c)Only some of the time d)Never

Public Opinion Poll How much do you feel public officials care what people like you think? a)A great deal b)A lot c)A moderate amount d)A little e)Not at all

Public Opinion Poll How much do you feel people like you can affect what the government does? a)A great deal b)A lot c)A moderate amount d)A little e)Not at all

Public Opinion Poll Outside of classroom requirements, how interested are you in learning about what goes on in government and politics? a)Extremely interested b)Very interested c)Moderately interested d)Slightly interested e)Not interested at all

Public Opinion Poll How often do you pay attention to what's going on In government and politics? a)Never b)Once in a while c)About half the time d)Most of the time e)All the time

Chapter 1: Introduction: The Citizen and the Government Quizzes Flashcards Outlines Exercises wwnorton.com/we-the-people

Following this slide, you will find additional images, figures, and tables from the textbook.

Political Efficacy

The Presence of Government in the Daily Life of a Student

The Country Is Still Confronting the Question, Who Are Americans?

Liberty Means Freedom