2. Introductory Themes American Political Culture August 25-August 30 American Federal Government

3. Introductory Themes and American Political Culture Political Power  Authority  Legitimacy

4. Conceptions of Democracy Democratic Centralism Direct Democracy Representative Democracy  popular sovereignty  citizen demands and government action  participation  deliberation  majority rule

5. Majority Rule: Good or Bad? No guarantee of good decisions Majority tyranny can threaten minorities Apathy toward politics

6. Who Really Governs? Different approaches  Marxist  Elitist  Bureaucratic  Pluralist

8. Political Culture Definition 4A basic set of shared values, attitudes and beliefs that differentiate Americans from citizens of other countries

9. Myths about the Founding of the American Republic British as tyrranical All the colonists favored independence Colonists were militarily superior American Revolution as a symbol of freedom for the world Constitution was divinely inspired

10. Characteristics of American Political Culture Equality of opportunity, not outcome Individual responsibility Mistrust of government & governmental power Limited government Religion and faith Providence, abundance, and Manifest Destiny Associationalism and civic duty Greater inclusion of “out-groups”?

11. American Political Culture Compared High confidence in political institutions Lower confidence in people running political institutions Religiosity Declining sense of political efficacy

12. Confidence in Institutions: America and Europe Compared

13. Confidence in People Running American Institutions

14. Religiosity: The United States Compared

15. Population of the US by Race and Ethnicity, 2000 (Census Bureau)

16. Population Change in the US 1980-2000

17. Changes in U.S. Occupational Structure

18. Race & Ethnicity Blacks/African-Americans –migration, political protest, civil rights –issue divisions Latinos/Hispanics –diversity as a group –low political mobilization exception? South Florida

19. Race & Ethnicity Asian Americans –recent immigration –considerably diverse group –issue foci Native Americans –scattering of distinct cultures –conquered nations, poverty, and protest –new economic devlopment: casino gambling

20. 1996 Presidential Vote by Ethnicity

21. 2000 Presidential Vote by Ethnicity

22. Class in American Politics? Most Americans believe they are in the middle class –What is the definition? Gingrich vs. Clinton Tolerance for income inequality

23. Income Distribution: The U.S. Compared

24. Gender in American Politics The Gender Gap –a distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting differences in views between men and women Example: --> Sexual Harrassment in the workplace –24% of men say it is a serious problem –38% of women say it is a serious problem (ICPSR /ANES 1992 pre/post election surveys)

25. Gender Gap in Voting: 1992/96 Vote for Clinton

26. Gender Gap in Voting: 2000 Election, Gore/Bush

27. Religion in American Politics Secularism and protest Values, culture, and moral issues –abortion Rise or Demise of the Christian Right? –The GOP connection

28. Membership in the Christian Coalition, 1989-95

29. Ideology: Moderates Carry the Day