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

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

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

4. 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 American ideals: basis of our national identity Political culture: beliefs of a people about their government and politics Political culture: beliefs of a people about their government and politics European (Enlightenment) thought and practice shaped beliefs European (Enlightenment) thought and practice shaped beliefs

5. 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 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 Equality: all individuals equal in worth, legal treatment, and political voice Popular Consent: people are ultimate source of governing authority Popular Consent: people are ultimate source of governing authority

6. Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. Core Values: Individualism, Unity, Diversity Core Values: Individualism, Unity, Diversity Individualism: people can achieve self- sufficiency and material success Individualism: people can achieve self- sufficiency and material success Unity: Americans=one people in an indivisible union Unity: Americans=one people in an indivisible union Diversity: respect for individual and group differences  national strength Diversity: respect for individual and group differences  national strength

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

8. 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 black people really have the same rights as whites? Do immigration laws discriminate? Do immigration laws discriminate? After September 11, 2001, will immigration laws change? After September 11, 2001, will immigration laws change? Pros and cons of affirmative action Pros and cons of affirmative action

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

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

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

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

13. Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. Democracy:our form of govt.=people govern directly or through elected representatives Democracy:our form of govt.=people govern directly or through elected representatives Constitutionalism: limits on government  protection of individual rights Constitutionalism: limits on government  protection of individual rights Capitalism: our economic system Capitalism: our economic system free enterprise and self-reliance free enterprise and self-reliance minimal governmental interference minimal governmental interference Rules of the Game of Politics Rules of the Game of Politics

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

15. 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 Bureaucracy=power of high level administrators (e.g. HHS, Treasury, Justice Depts.)  policy decisions Who does really rule? Who does really rule?

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

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

18. Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. American Political System American Political System Five overriding tendencies: Five overriding tendencies: Enduring cultural ideals Enduring cultural ideals Fragmentation of governance based on checks and balances Fragmentation of governance based on checks and balances Competition between diverse groups Competition between diverse groups Emphasis on individual rights and responsibilities Emphasis on individual rights and responsibilities Economic + political decision making separate  economic issues out of political control Economic + political decision making separate  economic issues out of political control