Chap4

11
Chapter 4Chapter 4
AmericanAmerican
PoliticalPolitical
CultureCulture

22Copyright © 2013 CengageCopyright © 2013 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?

44
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.
Copyright © 2013 CengageCopyright © 2013 Cengage
Alexis de Tocqueville wrote
Democracy in America, a
profound analysis of our
political culture.
The Granger Collection

55
At the height ofAt the height of
immigration to thisimmigration to this
country, there was acountry, there was a
striking emphasis onstriking emphasis on
creating a sharedcreating a shared
political culture.political culture.
Schoolchildren,Schoolchildren,
whatever their nationalwhatever their national
origin, were taught toorigin, were taught to
salute this country’ssalute this country’s
flag.flag.
Underwood &
Underwood/CORBIS

66
 The Political SystemThe Political System
 The Persistence of ConflictThe Persistence of Conflict
 The Economic SystemThe Economic System

77
The Political SystemThe Political System
 ThreeThree Questions ConcerningQuestions Concerning
The American Political System:The American Political System:
1.1. How do we know that the AmericanHow do we know that the American
people share these beliefs?people share these beliefs?
2.2. How can we explain the existence in ourHow can we explain the existence in our
society of behavior that is obviously insociety of behavior that is obviously in
conflict with these beliefs?conflict with these beliefs?
3.3. Why has there been so much politicalWhy has there been so much political
conflict in our history?conflict in our history?

88
The Persistence of ConflictThe Persistence of Conflict
In the 1950s SenatorIn the 1950s Senator
Joseph McCarthy ofJoseph McCarthy of
Wisconsin was theWisconsin was the
inspiration for theinspiration for the
world “McCarthyism”world “McCarthyism”
after his highlyafter his highly
publicized attacks onpublicized attacks on
alleged communistsalleged communists
working in the federalworking in the federal
government.government.
Topham/The Image Works

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

1010
The Economic SystemThe Economic System
 Americans tend to support:Americans tend to support:
1.1. TThe “free enterprise system”he “free enterprise system”
2.2. Government regulations that keep someGovernment regulations that keep some
firms from becoming too powerful and tofirms from becoming too powerful and to
correct specific abusescorrect specific abuses
3.3. ““Equality of opportunity”, but not “equalityEquality of opportunity”, but not “equality
of results”of results”

1111
Comparing America with OtherComparing America with Other
NationsNations

1212
The PoliticalThe Political
SystemSystem
Sources: World Values Survey Wave 4; International Social
Survey Program National Identity Module II (2003–2004)

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
A chaplain offers a prayer at a
meeting of the U.S. Congress.
Though having such a chaplain
may strike you as violating the
separation of church and state,
the Supreme Court has upheld it
on grounds of “tradition.”
Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly/Alamy

1414
The Economic SystemThe Economic System
United StatesUnited States
 Less likely to believe inLess likely to believe in
giving workers equalgiving workers equal
paypay
 Less likely to favorLess likely to favor
putting a top limit onputting a top limit on
incomeincome
 Ratio between theRatio between the
income of an executiveincome of an executive
vs. menial worker: 15vs. menial worker: 15
to 1to 1
SwedenSweden
 More likely to believe inMore likely to believe in
giving workers equalgiving workers equal
paypay
 More likely to favorMore likely to favor
putting a top limit onputting a top limit on
incomeincome
 Ratio between theRatio between the
income of an executiveincome of an executive
vs. menial worker: 2 tovs. menial worker: 2 to
11

1515
The Civic Role of ReligionThe Civic Role of Religion
 Average American compared to theAverage American compared to the
average European is more likely to:average European is more likely to:
1.1. Believe in GodBelieve in God
2.2. Pray on a daily basisPray on a daily basis
3.3. Acknowledge clear standards of right and wrongAcknowledge clear standards of right and wrong
 Religious people in the US:Religious people in the US:
1.1. DonateDonate more money to charities than secular folksmore money to charities than secular folks
2.2. More likely to give money and donate time to non-More likely to give money and donate time to non-
religious organizations than secular folksreligious organizations than secular folks

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.

1717
People stomp on a police
officer in Rome as part of
their demand for a change in
the Italian government.
Union members protest
Wisconsin Governor Scott
Walker’s plan to restrict their
collective bargaining rights.
They did not stomp on a police
officer.
..
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images
ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images

1818
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

2020
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.

2121
Figure 4.3 The American Civic HealthFigure 4.3 The American Civic Health
Index, 2009Index, 2009
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.

2222
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.

2323
MEMORANDUMMEMORANDUM
To:To: White House Chief of Staff Omar McFieldWhite House Chief of Staff Omar McField
From:From: Secretary of Education, Alexandra ClarkSecretary of Education, Alexandra Clark
Subject:Subject: Civic education in schoolsCivic education in schools
The decline in political knowledge that Americans have aboutThe decline in political knowledge that Americans have about
our governmental system is alarming. We need to work inour governmental system is alarming. We need to work in
partnership with Congress and the states to promote civicpartnership with Congress and the states to promote civic
education in secondary schools. In her upcoming state of theeducation in secondary schools. In her upcoming state of the
union message, the President needs to make a case for highunion message, the President needs to make a case for high
school civics education and endorse the creation of aschool civics education and endorse the creation of a
bipartisan task force to develop guidelines for such classes.bipartisan task force to develop guidelines for such classes.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

2424
Arguments for:Arguments for:
1. A recent survey finds that only about six of ten Americans1. A recent survey finds that only about six of ten Americans
can name the vice president and more than half believecan name the vice president and more than half believe
incorrectly that the Supreme Court prohibits public schoolincorrectly that the Supreme Court prohibits public school
classes that compare religions.classes that compare religions.
2. Schools have a responsibility to teach students the2. Schools have a responsibility to teach students the
principles of American constitutionalism, such as federalismprinciples of American constitutionalism, such as federalism
and separation of church and state.and separation of church and state.
3. If the federal government does not take the initiative in3. If the federal government does not take the initiative in
promoting civics education, then states will develop theirpromoting civics education, then states will develop their
own standards, which will weaken understanding of ourown standards, which will weaken understanding of our
shared political principles.shared political principles.

2525
Arguments against:Arguments against:
1.1. Civics education needs to be incorporated into existingCivics education needs to be incorporated into existing
courses, not taught separately.courses, not taught separately.
2. Individuals need to take responsibility for understanding2. Individuals need to take responsibility for understanding
the political system in which they live.the political system in which they live.
3. Based on their individual historical experiences, states are3. Based on their individual historical experiences, states are
better prepared than the federal government to determinebetter prepared than the federal government to determine
how the underlying principles of American politics shouldhow the underlying principles of American politics should
be taught in their classrooms.be taught in their classrooms.

2626
Your decision:Your decision:
Support ?Support ?
Oppose ?Oppose ?

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