AMERICAN IDEALS and the AMERICAN CONSTITUTION Cont’d May 14th, 2003

3.) Limits on Government Bill of RightsBill of Rights –the first Ten Amendments (1789) –“Congress shall make no law...”

Amending the Constitution (Article V) Methods of Amending the ConstitutionMethods of Amending the Constitution – Proposing Amendments... 2/3 of both Houses of Congress 2/3 of both Houses of Congress or 2/3 of state legislatures or 2/3 of state legislatures – Ratifying Amendments... 3/4 of states (either by the state legislature or special convention) 3/4 of states (either by the state legislature or special convention)

Recent Amendments/Proposals for Amendment 27th Amendment (1992) -- Congressional Pay27th Amendment (1992) -- Congressional Pay Equal Rights AmendmentEqual Rights Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag Amendment Balanced Budget AmendmentBalanced Budget Amendment

Assessing the American Constitutional Framework (...from a democratic perspective) bicameral legislaturebicameral legislature indirectly elected president (e.g. electoral college)indirectly elected president (e.g. electoral college) unelected Supreme Courtunelected Supreme Court separation of powers/checks and balancesseparation of powers/checks and balances federalismfederalism formal limits on the powers of governmentformal limits on the powers of government rigid constitutionrigid constitution

Democracy -- Protection of Individual Rights Low (Emphasis on General Welfare) High Protection of Individual Rights UNITED STATES

Final Point... American Constitution grounded in emphasis on rights of individual and limits on governmentAmerican Constitution grounded in emphasis on rights of individual and limits on government American emphasis on mass political participation emerged out of American political context, political culture and political practiceAmerican emphasis on mass political participation emerged out of American political context, political culture and political practice

AMERICAN POLITICAL CULTURE American Political Ideals May 14 th, 2003

POLITICAL CULTURE: What is It? value consensus regarding the appropriate method of making political decisions and the appropriate spheres subject to political decision-makingvalue consensus regarding the appropriate method of making political decisions and the appropriate spheres subject to political decision-making –constitution (formal rules of the game)/political culture (operational rules of the game) –both about process and outcome

POLITICAL CULTURE: What is It? CHARACTERISTICSCHARACTERISTICS –consensus -- not monolith –enduring -- not transitory –different from (but related to) political ideology more complex, less consistent than ideologymore complex, less consistent than ideology

Elements of American Political Culture libertyliberty egalitarianismegalitarianism –equality of opportunity mass democracy/populismmass democracy/populism individualism and individual responsibilityindividualism and individual responsibility voluntarismvoluntarism moral absolutismmoral absolutism patriotismpatriotism

POLITICAL CULTURE: Where Does It Come From? IMMIGRATIONIMMIGRATION –religious/ethnic background fleeing religious persecutionfleeing religious persecution –emphasis on liberty puritanismpuritanism –moral absolutism protestantismprotestantism –distrust of hierarchy –protestant work ethic –voluntarism

POLITICAL CULTURE: Where Does It Come From? GEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHY –more land than labour undermined development of rigid social hierarchyundermined development of rigid social hierarchy reinforced emphasis on individualismreinforced emphasis on individualism –frontier imagery settlement preceded authoritysettlement preceded authority

POLITICAL CULTURE: Where Does It Come From? HISTORICAL EVENTSHISTORICAL EVENTS –American Revolution patriotismpatriotism emphasized liberty and democracyemphasized liberty and democracy –American Civil War emphasized idea of “one nation”emphasized idea of “one nation”

POLITICAL CULTURE: Where Does It Come From? ECONOMYECONOMY –dynamic, rapidly growing economy –reinforced notions of equality of opportunity, individualism, and individual responsibility

POLITICAL CULTURE: Where Does It Come From? POLITICAL INSTITUTIONSPOLITICAL INSTITUTIONS –reflect political culture but also reinforce it –constitutional emphasis on individual rights and limited government –political practice emphasizing mass participation

POLITICAL CULTURE: Where Does It Come From? PLACE IN THE WORLDPLACE IN THE WORLD –major superpower doctrine of isolationism ultimately unsustainabledoctrine of isolationism ultimately unsustainable –reinforced patriotism and moral absolutism

Main Point! American politics is shaped by various values (sometimes contradictory) which arose out of the historical context in which the US political system developedAmerican politics is shaped by various values (sometimes contradictory) which arose out of the historical context in which the US political system developed –these values and the historical context have been self-reinforcing this political culture is widely shared and deeply embeddedthis political culture is widely shared and deeply embedded –commitment to these values is often shared by those critical of American political practice