American Democracy 8th ed. Thomas E. Patterson Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

PowerPoint Presentation by Diane Feibel, Ed.D. Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

American Political Culture: Seeking a More Perfect Union Chapter 1 Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

Political Culture: Core Principles of American Government American ideals: basis of our national identity Political culture: beliefs of a people about their government and politics European (Enlightenment) thought and practice shaped beliefs Debate: Voting Systems Are Fair Soapbox: Reagan's "Shining City on a Hill" Speech Video Theater: Free Association in American Democracy Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

Core Values: Liberty, Equality, Popular Consent 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 Popular Consent: people are ultimate source of governing authority Participate: Accessible to All Soapbox: Kennedy’s “City on a Hill” Speech Video Theater: Make Mine Freedom Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

Core Values: Individualism, Unity, Diversity Individualism: people can achieve self-sufficiency and material success Unity: Americans = one people in an indivisible union Diversity: respect for individual and group differences  national strength Debate: National security is more important than civil liberties Simulation: Immigration Soapbox: Clinton's Second Inaugural Address Video Theater: Make Mine Freedom Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

Power of Ideals Influences reasonable and desirable behaviors Individualismless support by social welfare Source of personal success=personal effort High idealspolitical and social change Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

Limits of Ideals Do black people really have the same rights as whites? Do immigration laws discriminate? After September 11, 2001, will immigration laws change? Pros and cons of affirmative action Images: Death at the Polls Images: Kaiser Wilson Banner Images: Civilian Exclusion Order #5 (Relocation Order) Images: Wallace Blocks Integration Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

Politics: Deciding Society’s Goals Politics: competing for powergoverning decisions Government=institutions, processes, and rules facilitating control of an area and its population Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

Politics: Deciding Society’s Goals Power=ability of persons or institutions to control policy Authority=recognized right of person(s) or institution to exercise power Video Theater: Despotism Soapbox: Eisenhower's Farewell Address Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

How Americans Compare Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

Politics: Deciding Society’s Goals Constitution and amendments protect against abuse of power with checks and balances Public Policy: governmental decision course of actionspecific outcome Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

Rules of the Game of Politics Democracy:our form of govt.=people govern directly or through elected representatives Constitutionalism: limits on government protection of individual rights Capitalism: our economic system free enterprise and self-reliance minimal governmental interference Debate: National security is more important than civil liberties Soapbox: TR’s “Right of the People To Rule” Speech Video Theater: Despotism Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

Theories of Power Majoritarianism=majority determines public policy Pluralism=government ruled by groups (i.e. farmers, welfare advocates, lawyers,etc.), not necessarily for the public benefit Elitism=a well-positioned few manipulate the political process Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

Theories of Power Bureaucracy=power of high level administrators (e.g. HHS, Treasury, Justice Depts.)policy decisions Who does really rule? Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

The American Political System Figure 1-5 Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

Concept of a Political System Political System=parts of American government Parts are separate Parts connect with each other Parts affect and interact with each other Dynamic system, changing as needed Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

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 Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.