1. Chapter 4 American Political Culture

2. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHO GOVERNS? WHO GOVERNS? 1. Do Americans trust their government? 2. Why do we accept great differences in wealth and income? TO WHAT ENDS? TO WHAT ENDS? 1. Why does our government behave differently than governments in countries with similar constitutions?

3. Political Culture I:A-C Political culture is a patterned and sustained way of thinking about how political and economic life ought to be carried out. Copyright © 2011 Cengage Alexis de Tocqueville wrote Democracy in America, a profound analysis of our political culture, p. 78. The Granger Collection

4. Copyright © 2011 Cengage At the height of immigration to this country, there was a striking emphasis on creating a shared political culture. Schoolchildren, whatever their national origin, were taught to salute this country’s flag. p. 79 Topham/The Image Works Underwood & Underwood/CORBIS

5. What’s your political belief? Question given to 10-14 year olds “One day the President was driving his car to a meeting. Because he was late, he was driving very fast. The police stopped the car.” (Finish the story) “One day the President was driving his car to a meeting. Because he was late, he was driving very fast. The police stopped the car.” (Finish the story) Different countries answer differently Different countries answer differently England – Queen would be releasedEngland – Queen would be released France – President would be excusedFrance – President would be excused US – President would get a ticket like everyone else (Which isn’t exactly true! )US – President would get a ticket like everyone else (Which isn’t exactly true! )

6. Reason’s for US democratic success I:D Abundant territory Abundant territory No feudal aristocracy, min taxes, westward expansion No feudal aristocracy, min taxes, westward expansion Land cultivated through small farms Land cultivated through small farms Moral and intellectual characteristics Moral and intellectual characteristics Copyright © 2011 Cengage

7. American View of the Political System I:E Liberty (rights) Liberty (rights) Equality Equality Democracy (government is accountable to the people) Democracy (government is accountable to the people) Civic duty Civic duty Individual responsibility Individual responsibility

8. Questions about the U.S. Political culture I:F How do we know people share these beliefs? How do we know people share these beliefs? How do we explain behavior inconsistent with these beliefs? How do we explain behavior inconsistent with these beliefs? Why is there so much political conflict in U.S. history? Why is there so much political conflict in U.S. history? Americanism v. Un-American Americanism v. Un-American

9. The Persistence of Conflict I:G Social Changes Social Changes Citizenry Citizenry Distrust of generations Distrust of generations Copyright © 2011 Cengage

10. In the 1950s Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin was the inspiration for the world “McCarthyism” after his highly publicized attacks on alleged communists working in the federal government, p. 81

11. Copyright © 2011 Cengage Source: Jack Citrin, et al., “Testing Huntington,” Perspectives on Politics, 5 (2007), 43. Data are from 2004 National Election Survey.

12. The Economic System View I:H Americans support free enterprise, but see limits on marketplace freedom Americans support free enterprise, but see limits on marketplace freedom Americans believe in equality of opportunity in the economy, but not equality of result Americans believe in equality of opportunity in the economy, but not equality of result Americans have a widely shared commitment to economic individualism Americans have a widely shared commitment to economic individualism

13. Copyright © 2011 Cengage Comparing America with Other Nations II:A-C The Political System The Political System The Economic System The Economic System The Civic Role of Religion The Civic Role of Religion The chaplain of the U. S. House of Representatives leads a prayer, p. 85. AP Photo/Ken Lambert

14. Role of Religion in the U.S. Americans are highly religious compared to Europeans Americans are highly religious compared to Europeans Religious beliefs have played an important role in American politics Religious beliefs have played an important role in American politics Both liberals and Both liberals and conservatives have and do use the pulpit to promote political change

15. Copyright © 2011 Cengage The Sources of Political Culture III:A Historical Roots Historical Roots Legal Social Factors Legal Social Factors

16. American Culture and Religion III:B Absence of an established national religion cause a diverse number of churches & religious beliefs Absence of an established national religion cause a diverse number of churches & religious beliefs Religious diversity a source of cleavage Religious diversity a source of cleavage Absence of established religion has facilitated the absence of political orthodoxy Absence of established religion has facilitated the absence of political orthodoxy Puritan heritage stress on personal achievement: Puritan heritage stress on personal achievement: Work - Max Weber described this as the “Protestant ethic” (work ethic) Save money, Obey secular law, Do good works, Miniature political systems were produced by churches’ congregational organization, so civic and political skills could develop Miniature political systems were produced by churches’ congregational organization, so civic and political skills could develop

17. Importance of Family III:B:3 Family instills the ways we think about world and politics Greater freedom of children and equality among family members… Greater freedom of children and equality among family members… …leads to belief in rights and acceptance of diverse views in decision-making …leads to belief in rights and acceptance of diverse views in decision-making Parents are the greatest influence on one’s political persuasion Parents are the greatest influence on one’s political persuasion

18. Class Warfare??? III:B:4 High degree of class consciousness absent High degree of class consciousness absent Most people consider themselves middle class Most people consider themselves middle class Even unemployed do not oppose management—the political views of employed and unemployed people are similar Even unemployed do not oppose management—the political views of employed and unemployed people are similar

19. Culture War III:C:1-4 What kind of country we ought to live in Simplify by identifying two camps Simplify by identifying two camps a) Orthodox: morality is as, or more, important than self-expression and morality derives from fixed rules from God b) Progressive: personal freedom is as, or more, important than tradition with changing rules based on circumstances of modern life

20. The Two Camps Defined Orthodox associated with fundamentalist Protestants Orthodox associated with fundamentalist Protestants Progressives associated with liberal Protestants and those with no strong religious beliefs Progressives associated with liberal Protestants and those with no strong religious beliefs Culture war occurring both between and within religious denominations Culture war occurring both between and within religious denominations Current culture war has special historical importance due to two changes: Current culture war has special historical importance due to two changes: a) More people consider themselves progressives than previously which makes fundamentalists feel threatened b) Rise of technology makes it easier to mobilize people

21. Copyright © 2011 Cengage Yet, despite disagreements Americans are a patriotic people, as seen in this photo of baseball fans waving flags and singing “God Bless America,” taken a few days after 9/11. Protests and demonstrations are a common feature of American politics, as with this attack in Seattle on American membership in the World Trade Organization in November 2001. Beth A. Keiser/AP Photo John Sommers II/Reuters/Corbis

22. Mistrust of Government IV:A Civil society is that collection of private, voluntary groups that – independent of the government and the commercial market – make human cooperation easier and provide ways of holding the government accountable for its actions. Copyright © 2011 Cengage

23. Mistrust of Government IV:A Evidence of increase since mid-1960s Jimmy Carter speech in 1979 on American malaise—a crisis of confidence Jimmy Carter speech in 1979 on American malaise—a crisis of confidence Polls showed people… Polls showed people… Less often trusted government to “do what is right” all or most of the timeLess often trusted government to “do what is right” all or most of the time Had diminished trust in the president and CongressHad diminished trust in the president and Congress Had virtually unchanged trust in the Supreme CourtHad virtually unchanged trust in the Supreme Court Had increased trust in state and local governmentsHad increased trust in state and local governments

24. Causes for Mistrust IV:B-D Watergate & Vietnam But the trend was the same before and after these events (evolutionary & maturity?) But the trend was the same before and after these events (evolutionary & maturity?) Necessary to view this crisis in context Mistrust of specific leaders and policies, not of the system Mistrust of specific leaders and policies, not of the system Present views are closer to historical norm Present views are closer to historical norm In summary: No longer give leaders & policies support seen in 1950s No longer give leaders & policies support seen in 1950s No loss of confidence in Americans or in their system No loss of confidence in Americans or in their system

25. Figure 4.2 Trust in the Federal Government, 1958-2004 Copyright © 2011 Cengage p. 90 Source: University of Michigan, The American National Election Studies.

26. Copyright © 2011 Cengage Source: Gallup Poll

27. Figure 4.3 The American Civic Health Index, 1975-2002 Copyright © 2011 Cengage Source: America’s Civic Health Index: Broken Engagement (Washington, D.C.: National Citizenship Conference and Saguaro Seminar, September 2006), p. 6. Reprinted by permission of the National Conference of Citizenship. p. 91

28. Political Efficacy Definition: citizen’s capacity to understand & influence political events 1. Internal efficacy a) Confidence in one’s ability to understand & influence events b) Currently, about the same as in 1950s 2. External efficacy a) Belief that system will respond to citizens b) Not shaped by particular events c) Declined steadily since the 1960s d) Americans seem to believe that government is becoming too big to respond to individual preferences

29. Efficacy Comparison Still much higher among Americans than among Europeans Still much higher among Americans than among Europeans Americans today may not be more alienated but simply more realistic Americans today may not be more alienated but simply more realistic

30. Civil Society V:A-B Copyright © 2011 Cengage

31. Political Tolerance VI In order for democracy to work, citizens must have a political culture that allows the discussion of ideas and the selection of rulers in an atmosphere reasonably free of oppression. Copyright © 2011 Cengage

32. MEMORANDUM To: Representative Olivia Kuo From: J. P. Loria, chief of staff Subject: Charitable Choice Expansion Act Section 104 of the 1996 federal welfare reform law encourages states to utilize “faith-based organizations” as providers of federal welfare services. Known as Charitable Choice, the law prohibits participating organizations from discriminating against beneficiaries on the basis of religion but permits them to control “the definition, development, practice, and expression” of their religious convictions. The proposed act would expand Charitable Choice to crime prevention and other areas. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

33. Arguments for: 1. Over 90 percent of Americans believe in God, and 80 percent favor government funding for faith-based social programs. 2. Local religious groups are the main nongovernmental providers of social services in poor urban neighborhoods. The primary beneficiaries of faith-based programs are needy neighborhood children who are not affiliated with any congregation. 3. So long as the religious organizations serve civic purposes and do not proselytize, the law is constitutional. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

34. Arguments against: 1. Americans are a richly religious people precisely because we have never mixed church and state in this way. 2. Community-serving religious groups succeed because over 97 percent of their funding is private and they can flexibly respond to people’s needs without government or other interference. 3. Constitutional or not, the law threatens to undermine both church and state: Children will have religion slid (if not jammed) down their throats, and religious leaders will be tempted to compromise their convictions. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

35. Your decision: Favor expansion? Oppose expansion? Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?