1. American Political Culture: Seeking a More Perfect Union
Chapter 1
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2. Big Trends Political efficacy has decreased since the 1960s
Election 2008: Does it mark a change?
Voter Turnout 2008=56.8, 2004=55.3, 2000=51.3
Government is more complex
Decreased power of political parties since 19th century
2008=
2004=
2000=
1996=
1992=
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3. Government and Politics: Deciding Societies’ Goals
Government=institutions, processes, and rules facilitating control of an area and its population; the formal institutions that make policy or laws on behalf of the people
Public Policy=A course of action decided upon by government that usually involves a choice among competing alternatives
Politics= who gets what, when and how, the process through which society makes its decisions
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4. SUPER HUGE IMPORTANT POINT!
GOVERNMENTS ARE WHATEVER A NATION MAKES OF THEM!
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5. Functions of Government
Despite the type of government, all governments are supposed to do the following:
Protection (maintain national defense)
Maintenance of public order (police power)
Resolution of social conflicts
Maintenance of a stable economy
Provision of public services
Protection—from outside invaders
Pub order—protecting citizens from violence against one another
Res. Of social conflicts=govs provide laws and mechanisms through which groups can resolve conflicts
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6. Political Culture: Core Principles of American Government
American ideals: basis of our national identity
Political culture: beliefs of a people about their government and politics
European (Enlightenment) thought and practice shaped beliefs
Shared beliefs; conflict b/c people have different ideas about how to implement the shared values; Have students read pp in text and distinguish between Locke, Hobbes and Rousseau
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7. How Governments Are Classified
Geographic Distribution of Power
Unitary, federal, confederal
Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Branches
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8. Types of Government:
Pluralistpolitical power distributed among a wide range of groups and interests
Democracy
Democratic socialism
Constitutional monarchy
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9. Types of Government
Authoritarianpower is held by one person or small group
Totalitarianism
Fascism
Communism
Absolute monarchy
Dictatorship
Totalitarianism=complete dominance over individuals and the institutions—government determine culture, media, economy
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10. Core Values: Liberty, Equality, Popular Consent
Liberty: freedom to act and think as one chooses but not infringe on freedom of others
Equality: all individuals equal in worth, legal treatment, and political voice
Popular Consent: people are ultimate source of governing authority
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11. Core Values: Individualism, Rule of Law
Individualism: people can achieve self –sufficiency and material success
Rule of Law: no one is above the law
“The government of the United States has been termed a government of laws—not people” John Marshall
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12. Activity
In groups of 3 rank order the elements of American political culture (equality, liberty, popular sovereignty/consent, rule of law, individualism)
Create poster
Elect one group member to summarize your group’s findings and defend your ranking
15 minutes
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13. Core Values: Political Liberty
Self government requires liberty
To act
To persuade
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14. Core Values: Political Equality
Each person carries equal weight in the policy making process
Each vote counts the same
Equality of opportunity (versus equality of result)
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15. Core Values: Popular Consent/Sovereignty
Policies reflect people’s desires
People participate in the political process
People can gain information and debate issues BEFORE policies are made
Majority rules the decision making process
Have students create poster rank ordering the values and defending their position on these values
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16. Power of Ideals Influences reasonable and desirable behaviors
Influences public opinion on an issue (ex. Healthcare reform)
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17. Origin of Political Conflict
Unequal Resources
Unequal Experience/Expertise about System
Different ideas about the role of government
Different ideas about how elements of poltical culture should be carried out
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18. Limits of Ideals
Do black people really have the same rights as whites?
Do immigration laws discriminate?
After September 11, 2001, will immigration laws change?
Pros and cons of affirmative action
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19. Politics: Deciding Society’s Goals
Constitution and amendments protect against abuse of power with checks and balances
Public Policy: governmental decision course of actionspecific outcome
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20. Theories of Power: Who Governs?
Majoritarianism
Pluralism
Hyperpluralism
Elitism
Bureaucracy
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21. Rules of the Game of Politics
Democracy:our form of govt.=people govern directly or through elected representatives
Constitutionalism: limits on government protection of individual rights
Capitalism: our economic system
free enterprise and self-reliance
minimal governmental interference
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22. How American Politics Works
The main factors of political life are interconnected
The main factors of political life can be categorized (institutions, actors, procedures)
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23. How American Politics Works
Structural factors are very important
Looking at American politics requires taking an overview as well as detailed specifics
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24. The American Political System Figure 1-5
Linkage institutions=political parties, elections, interest groups, media; any vehicle that connects the government with the people and the people with the government; model on p. 12 of “Lecture 1” better
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25. Concept of a Political System
Political System=parts of American government
Parts are separate
Parts connect with each other
Parts affect and interact with each other
Dynamic system, changing as needed
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26. American Political System
Five overriding tendencies:
Enduring cultural ideals
Fragmentation of governance based on checks and balances
Competition between diverse groups
Emphasis on individual rights and responsibilities
Economic + political decision making separateeconomic issues out of political control
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