1. Janelle Hill, Jonalynn Hansen, Gary Heidemann
American Government
Good Citizen Chapter #7
Images of Leviathan
Janelle Hill, Jonalynn Hansen, Gary Heidemann

2. Are You Happy With Our Government?
Civic Culture
The average American is unhappy with the performance of the
government – no matter their political affiliation

3. Support for the Political System
In the 1950s & 60s 73% of Americans surveyed felt government could be trusted most of the time to do what was right. 71% of Americans believed politicians cared what people thought.
Good Citizenship
Allegiance
Support for the Political System
Strong National Pride

4. UNITED AS A NATION

5. Three levels of political support
Political Authorities – incumbents of a political office & the pool of political elites from where the government leaders are from.
Regime – institutions & offices of government rather than the present officeholders.
Political Community – the basic attachment to the nation and political system beyond the present institutions of government.

6. Civil Rights Disagreements
POLITCAL AUTHORITY What are certain aspects that affect the view of the American Government?
Changing Views
Trust Issues
Watergate
Vietnam War
Civil Rights Disagreements
**In 1979 President Jimmy Carter warned that declining public confidence “was a fundamental threat to American democracy”.**

7. The Regime Iran Contra Bill & Monica Iraq War
The Presidential Office “suffers from an accumulation of negative events”
Iran Contra
Bill & Monica
Iraq War

8. *Our Political Community*
Even after a scandal passes & we vote in new officials into office, the skepticism remains in place
Erosion of “duty-based citizenship” can contribute to the lack in trust in our government & elected officials.
Being an “engaged citizen” has a more positive attitude and lends more support towards politicians and the government agencies
they work for

9. Government Performance Indicators
Evaluations of Government
Satisfaction with the Process
Democratic Values
The Citizenship and Their Views

10. Citizenship and Evaluations Duty Based vs. The Engaged
Duty-Based people are more positive about the performance of the government - past, present and future - with the weakest part looking at the future
Engaged people only weakly relate evaluations of the performance of government
Each sees in the opposite direction
Engaged are positive looking toward future. Duty-Based are positive when looking back at past.

11. Citizenship and Satisfaction Duty Based vs Engaged
Duty-Based and Engaged citizens are not interchangeable.
Duty-based believes
a.) politicians are not self-interested & administrators serve the people
b.) Congress would pay attention if protesting law
c.) government corruption is limited
d.) elections are fair and honest
Engaged Citizen
a.) have mixed images of government and politicians
b.) are more trustful of government and politicians
c.) thinks corruption is common
d.) doubts honesty and fairness of elections
“Americans are redefining what it means to be a good citizen and this reshapes their images of government”

12. Citizenship and Democratic Values Democracy Duty vs Engaged
Duty-Based
Promotes support for politicians and the government as a whole
Focuses on egalitarian and autonomous elements that conflict with hierarchic and the normal part of civic duty
Engaged
Openly embraces democratic values
Social concerns and involvement in the normal democratic values
Have a stronger impact on democratic values

13. ~The Value of Democracy~
Most Americans agree that democracy is better than any other form of government, even with it’s limitations.
Americans believe democracy ensures the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness which is central to our political traditions and way of life.
Public support is essential for democracy to succeed and sustain.

14. Measuring Democratic Values

15. How can you measure the value of democracy?
Get opinions on whether people would choose between
contrasting alternatives
Find the appropriate balance for both sides
Politics helps weigh the differences
Choosing between two desired goals and the citizenship normal help shape the tradeoffs people are willing to make

16. Engaged vs Duty Democratic Values
Focuses on minorities rights/civil liberties
“Reinforces American’s commitment to action and inclusion”, “stresses minority rights and the social dimensions of democratic politics”
”Less trustful of contemporary politicians and political institutions”
Duty
Focuses on order
“Produces a more restrictive image of democracy based on conformity and acceptance of authority”
“A loyal subject”

17. NATIONAL IDENTITY PRIDE National pride is what makes us AMERICAN
Being multicultural and having ethnic diversity challenges our nation’s identity
ALLEGIANCE
Duty Based
Nonchalant which decreases our national pride

18. A democratic society needs both sets of “norms” to function democratically
The ideal would be the different orientations would be mixed within individual citizens who understand and see both the need to respect politicians but also to question them so to find the right balance between the two.

19. Carl Shurz – Late Wisconsin Senator
My country right or wrong. If right to defend it, if wrong to correct it
Carl Shurz – Late Wisconsin Senator
“The Credo”