Your Agenda First Review Political system Political culture Discuss Implications of Political Culture for Public Policy Apply Political Culture to Republicans and Democrats Explore Patterson’s “Rules of American Politics” Explore Political Culture in the Founding Documents Declaration of Independence Constitution of 1789 Examine Constitutional Principles (Intent of the Framers) Consider Constitutional Evolution (Subsequent Changes) Agenda

American Political System Where’s the American Political Culture in this model?

Culture – The totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, beliefs & institutions associated with a group. Politics – Behaviors associated with making binding decisions for a group. Related concepts: power, authority, public policy & government. Note: Distinct from economics, where decisions arise from voluntary exchanges of value. Political Culture – The totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, beliefs & institutions associated with the politics of a group. American Political Culture... Political Culture & Related Terms

American Political Culture – Whatever else it may be, it is extremely (perhaps uniquely) individualistic. Top rated values seem to be Freedom/Liberty Equality Democracy/Self-government It provides the environment for American Politics. Remember environments shape behavior. Political Culture & Related Terms

How Is American Political Culture Expressed in Our Public Policy? Taxes? Welfare? Education? Government Structure? Other? Think about how each of the core values applies. Freedom/Liberty Equality Democracy/Self-government

How Is American Political Culture Expressed by Our Two Major Political Parties? Economic Policy? Social Policy? Think about how each of the core values applies. Freedom/Liberty Equality Democracy/Self-government

democratic constitutional free market Rules of American Politics: Patterson says American Government is... Each constitutes a standing decision about how power is distributed and exercised. How is each related to political culture? Freedom/Liberty Equality Democracy/Self-government

democracy (people govern either directly or through representatives) responds to numbers--majoritarian constitutionalism is a set of rules that restricts the lawful use of power (limits on the power of governments over citizens) responds to rights--minoritarian capitalism (free enterprise and self-reliance) responds to wealth–plutocratic America’s Governing System ala Patterson Are these three characteristics at war with each other?

democracy (people govern either directly or through representatives) responds to numbers—majoritarian—the group rules the individual constitutionalism is a set of rules that restricts the lawful use of power (limits on the power of governments over citizens) responds to rights—minoritarian—the individual rules the group capitalism (free enterprise and self-reliance) responds to wealth—plutocratic—rich people rule poor people Rules of American Politics ala Patterson How can they be at war and still all compatible with our political culture?

democracy (people govern either directly or through representatives) responds to numbers--majoritarian constitutionalism is a set of rules that restricts the lawful use of power (limits on the power of governments over citizens) responds to rights--minoritarian capitalism (free enterprise and self-reliance) responds to wealth–plutocratic Rules of American Politics ala Patterson All three rules of the game are based on the free choice of free individuals & thus consistent with our core belief in individualism.

American Political Culture and the Founding Documents

Founding Documents from the Perspective of Political Culture  Declaration of Independence  Liberty: “unalienable rights [to] life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”  Equality: “all men are created equal”  Self-government: “deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”  Constitution?  Liberty:  Equality:  Self-government:

Constitutional Principles: 1787 CONSTITUTIONALISM REPUBLICANISM FEDERALISM SEPARATION OF POWERS BICAMERALISM CHECKS AND BALANCES

A GOVERNMENT DESIGNED TO RESPOND TO BROAD CONSENSUS -- BUT NOT TO MERE MAJORITY PREFERENCE. This government will frequently be unable to respond at all. Such a structure is an excellent mechanism for preventing tyranny so long as the only threat of tyranny comes from the government itself. A government isn't likely to hurt you if it's not doing anything. Such a structure may be less effective in a world where we are subject to the tyranny of a multitude of institutions other than our own government. And we have probably lived in such a world since the industrial revolution and the close of the American frontier.

A GOVERNMENT DESIGNED TO RESPOND TO BROAD CONSENSUS -- BUT NOT TO MERE MAJORITY PREFERENCE. Since emergency or crisis tends to produce a kind of mob consensus, these institutions may continue to work pretty efficiently when we need them the most, even if they hardly work at all the rest of the time. In times of crisis, the mob consensus that allows government to function efficiently might form around bad policies as well as good ones.

Constitutional Change CONSTITUTIONALISM REPUBLICANISM FEDERALISM SEPARATION OF POWERS BICAMERALISM CHECKS AND BALANCES What’s new?