1. Ideas that Shape American Politics
Chapter 1
CHAPTER 1: IDEAS THAT SHAPE AMERICAN POLITICS

2. In this chapter, you will:
Learn about the four questions that guide this book
Explore the seven key ideas that shape American politics
Investigate the essential questions: How do ideas affect
CHAPTER 1: IDEAS THAT SHAPE AMERICAN POLITICS

3. The Spirit of American Politics
We explore American government by asking four questions
Who governs? Does power rest with the people or with rich and powerful elites?
How Does American Politics Work? We emphasize four “I” factors: ideas, institutions, interests, and individuals.
What does Government Do?
Who Are We? In a rapidly changing nation, the answer to this question is constantly being rewritten.
CHAPTER 1: IDEAS THAT SHAPE AMERICAN POLITICS

4. A Nation of Ideas
Liberty—or the freedom to pursue your goals—is the most often invoked American value.
There are two different views of what liberty means. Negative liberty emphasizes a lack of constraints on individuals, even if those constraints are intended to help others. Positive liberty calls on the community to help everyone satisfy their basic needs.
Freedom has expanded to new groups over time. Some scholars see the rise of freedom as inevitable, reflecting American ideals; others see it as a constant battle that can always go either way.
CHAPTER 1: IDEAS THAT SHAPE AMERICAN POLITICS

5. Self-Rule
Americans distrust their government more than people in most other democracies traditionally have. The Constitution builds that distrust into our governing rules by providing for limited government. The result is a durable status quo.
In many other countries, politicians can usually deliver the programs they promised on the campaign trail. In the United States, winners confront multiple barriers to fulfilling their campaign promises.
However, once programs do go into effect, they often prove popular and difficult to change.
CHAPTER 1: IDEAS THAT SHAPE AMERICAN POLITICS

6. American politics includes both individualism and solidarity.
Different leaders, parties, groups, and individuals weigh the two values in different ways. However, compared to other nations, the United States is at the individualist end of the spectrum.
CHAPTER 1: IDEAS THAT SHAPE AMERICAN POLITICS

7. Despite the critics, the dream remains a powerful American idea.
American Dream
The American dream is the belief that anyone who works hard can get ahead and grow wealthy.
Critics argue that hard work is no longer enough to achieve the dream. They make two criticisms: the poor and middle classes are falling farther behind the wealthy because of bias in the political economy, and other values are more important than wealth.
Despite the critics, the dream remains a powerful American idea.
CHAPTER 1: IDEAS THAT SHAPE AMERICAN POLITICS

8. There are three kinds of equality: social,, political, and economic.
Equality means that every citizen enjoys the same privileges, status, and rights before the law.
There are three kinds of equality: social,, political, and economic.
Today, America generally aims for equal opportunity rather than equal outcome, although heated discussions rage over what society must provide to ensure true equal opportunity.
CHAPTER 1: IDEAS THAT SHAPE AMERICAN POLITICS

9. Religion
Religion plays an enduring role in American politics and society. This is unusual—almost unique—among wealthy countries.
Americans have an unusually large number of faiths to choose from, although younger people are less likely to affiliate with an organized religion.
Religion touches politics in three ways: It injects questions about the role of religion in political life. It inspires political participation. And it fosters a missionary sense in American foreign policy.
CHAPTER 1: IDEAS THAT SHAPE AMERICAN POLITICS

10. How Do Ideas Affect Politics
How do the foundational ideas influence politics? Political scientists point to three different ways.
First, ideas shape American culture, which in turn affects our politics.
Second—and most popular among political scientists—ideas operate through political institutions. We must study those institutions to appreciate how ideas shape politics and policies.
Third, ideas may have their own independent power.
CHAPTER 1: IDEAS THAT SHAPE AMERICAN POLITICS