American Political Culture

Chapter 4Chapter 4
AmericanAmerican
PoliticalPolitical
CultureCulture

Copyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage
 WHO GOVERNS?WHO GOVERNS?
1. Do Americans trust their government?1. Do Americans trust their government?
2. Why do we accept great differences in2. Why do we accept great differences in
wealth and income?wealth and income?
 TO WHAT ENDS?TO WHAT ENDS?
1. Why does our government behave1. Why does our government behave
differently than governments indifferently than governments in
countries with similar constitutions?countries with similar constitutions?

Political CulturePolitical Culture
Political culture is a patterned andPolitical culture is a patterned and
sustained way of thinking about howsustained way of thinking about how
politicalpolitical andand economiceconomic life ought tolife ought to
be carried out.be carried out.
Alexis de Tocqueville wrote
Democracy in America, a
profound analysis of our
political culture, p. 78.
The Granger Collection

Political CulturePolitical Culture
 The Political SystemThe Political System
 The Persistence ofThe Persistence of
ConflictConflict
 The Economic SystemThe Economic System

In the 1950s Senator JosephIn the 1950s Senator Joseph
McCarthy of Wisconsin was theMcCarthy of Wisconsin was the
inspiration for the worldinspiration for the world
“McCarthyism” after his highly“McCarthyism” after his highly
publicized attacks on allegedpublicized attacks on alleged
communists working in thecommunists working in the
federal government, p. 81federal government, p. 81
At the height ofAt the height of
immigration to this country,immigration to this country,
there was a strikingthere was a striking
emphasis on creating aemphasis on creating a
shared political culture.shared political culture.
Schoolchildren, whateverSchoolchildren, whatever
their national origin, weretheir national origin, were
taught to salute thistaught to salute this
country’s flag. p. 79country’s flag. p. 79
Topham/The Image Works
Underwood &
Underwood/CORBIS

Source: Jack Citrin, et al., “Testing Huntington,” Perspectives on Politics, 5 (2007),
43. Data are from 2004 National Election Survey.

Comparing America with OtherComparing America with Other
NationsNations
 The Political SystemThe Political System
 The Economic SystemThe Economic System
 The Civic Role of ReligionThe Civic Role of Religion
The chaplain of the
U. S. House of
Representatives
leads a prayer, p. 85.
AP Photo/Ken Lambert

The Sources of Political CultureThe Sources of Political Culture
 Personal Liberty vs. Social ControlPersonal Liberty vs. Social Control
 Class ConsciousnessClass Consciousness
 The Culture WarThe Culture War
• OrthodoxOrthodox – a belief that morality and– a belief that morality and
religion ought to be of decisivereligion ought to be of decisive
importance.importance.
• ProgressiveProgressive – a belief that personal– a belief that personal
freedom and solving social problems arefreedom and solving social problems are
more important than religion.more important than religion.

Yet, despiteYet, despite
disagreements Americansdisagreements Americans
are a patriotic people, asare a patriotic people, as
seen in this photo ofseen in this photo of
baseball fans waving flagsbaseball fans waving flags
and singing “God Blessand singing “God Bless
America,” taken a fewAmerica,” taken a few
days after 9/11.days after 9/11.
Protests and demonstrationsProtests and demonstrations
are a common feature ofare a common feature of
American politics, as with thisAmerican politics, as with this
attack in Seattle on Americanattack in Seattle on American
membership in the Worldmembership in the World
Trade Organization inTrade Organization in
November 2001.November 2001.
Beth A. Keiser/AP Photo
John Sommers II/Reuters/Corbis

Figure 4.2 Trust in the FederalFigure 4.2 Trust in the Federal
Government, 1958-2004Government, 1958-2004
p. 90
Source: University of Michigan, The American National
Election Studies.

Source: Gallup Poll

Mistrust of GovernmentMistrust of Government
Civil society is that collection ofCivil society is that collection of
private, voluntary groups that –private, voluntary groups that –
independent of the government andindependent of the government and
the commercial market – makethe commercial market – make
human cooperation easier andhuman cooperation easier and
provide ways of holding theprovide ways of holding the
government accountable for itsgovernment accountable for its
actions.actions.

Figure 4.3 The American CivicFigure 4.3 The American Civic
Health Index, 1975-2002Health Index, 1975-2002
Source: America’s Civic Health Index: Broken Engagement (Washington, D.C.: National
Citizenship Conference and Saguaro Seminar, September 2006), p. 6. Reprinted by
permission of the National Conference of Citizenship. p. 91

Political TolerancePolitical Tolerance
In order for democracy to work,In order for democracy to work,
citizens must have a political culturecitizens must have a political culture
that allows the discussion of ideasthat allows the discussion of ideas
and the selection of rulers in anand the selection of rulers in an
atmosphere reasonably free ofatmosphere reasonably free of
oppression.oppression.

MEMORANDUMMEMORANDUM
To:To: Representative Olivia KuoRepresentative Olivia Kuo
From:From: J. P. Loria, chief of staffJ. P. Loria, chief of staff
Subject:Subject: Charitable Choice Expansion ActCharitable Choice Expansion Act
Section 104 of the 1996 federal welfare reform lawSection 104 of the 1996 federal welfare reform law
encourages states to utilize “faith-based organizations” asencourages states to utilize “faith-based organizations” as
providers of federal welfare services. Known as Charitableproviders of federal welfare services. Known as Charitable
Choice, the law prohibits participating organizations fromChoice, the law prohibits participating organizations from
discriminating against beneficiaries on the basis of religiondiscriminating against beneficiaries on the basis of religion
but permits them to control “the definition, development,but permits them to control “the definition, development,
practice, and expression” of their religious convictions. Thepractice, and expression” of their religious convictions. The
proposed act would expand Charitable Choice to crimeproposed act would expand Charitable Choice to crime
prevention and other areas.prevention and other areas.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments for:Arguments for:
1. Over 90 percent of Americans believe in God, and 801. Over 90 percent of Americans believe in God, and 80
percent favor government funding for faith-based socialpercent favor government funding for faith-based social
programs.programs.
2. Local religious groups are the main nongovernmental2. Local religious groups are the main nongovernmental
providers of social services in poor urban neighborhoods.providers of social services in poor urban neighborhoods.
The primary beneficiaries of faith-based programs areThe primary beneficiaries of faith-based programs are
needy neighborhood children who are not affiliated withneedy neighborhood children who are not affiliated with
any congregation.any congregation.
3. So long as the religious organizations serve civic purposes3. So long as the religious organizations serve civic purposes
and do not proselytize, the law is constitutional.and do not proselytize, the law is constitutional.

Arguments against:Arguments against:
1. Americans are a richly religious people precisely because1. Americans are a richly religious people precisely because
we have never mixed church and state in this way.we have never mixed church and state in this way.
2. Community-serving religious groups succeed because over2. Community-serving religious groups succeed because over
97 percent of their funding is private and they can flexibly97 percent of their funding is private and they can flexibly
respond to people’s needs without government or otherrespond to people’s needs without government or other
interference.interference.
3. Constitutional or not, the law threatens to undermine both3. Constitutional or not, the law threatens to undermine both
church and state: Children will have religion slid (if notchurch and state: Children will have religion slid (if not
jammed) down their throats, and religious leaders will bejammed) down their throats, and religious leaders will be
tempted to compromise their convictions.tempted to compromise their convictions.

Your decision:Your decision:
Favor expansion?Favor expansion?
Oppose expansion?Oppose expansion?

American Political Culture

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