9/2/2014
1
AP AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
2 | 1
Unit One
Part 3
Political Culture,
Ideology, and
Structure
Defining the American Political Culture
• LO 7.1 Identify the most important elements of and sources for the American political culture.
Political Attitudes and Ideology
• LO 7.2 Compare and contrast political ideologies and
evaluate the critiques of each ideology.
American Political Culture and Ideology
Objectives:
Political Ideology and the American People
• LO 7.3 Assess the importance of political ideology and contemporary American politics.
• Defining the American Political Culture
• Political Ideology and Attitudes Toward Government
• Political Ideology and the American People
American Political Culture and Ideology
9/2/2014
2
Political Ideology
Political ideology: a consistent pattern of ideas or beliefs about political values and the role of government
Go to the World’s Shortest Political Quiz at:
http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz/quiz.php
Copyright © 7 | 4
Political Spectrum
100%
Personal Freedom
100%
EconomicFreedom
100% Freedom
0% Freedom
LO 7.1
Back to learning objectives
Defining the American Political
Culture
LO 7.1 Identify the most important elements of
and sources for the American political culture.
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
9/2/2014
3
Political CulturePolitical CulturePolitical CulturePolitical CulturePolitical Culture: shared beliefs and values citizens hold about their relationship to government and to one another.Copyright © 4 | 7
What are Americans
common political values?
The Declaration of Independence1776
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Political CulturePolitical CulturePolitical CulturePolitical CulturePolitical Culture: shared beliefs and values citizens hold about their relationship to government and to one another.Copyright © 4 | 9
What are Americans
common political values?
9/2/2014
4
American Political Values
Liberty/FreedomLiberty/FreedomLiberty/FreedomLiberty/FreedomIndividualismIndividualismIndividualismIndividualismEqualityEqualityEqualityEqualityOpportunityOpportunityOpportunityOpportunityNatural Rights Natural Rights Natural Rights Natural Rights Popular SovereigntyPopular SovereigntyPopular SovereigntyPopular Sovereignty
Copyright © 4 | 10
American Political CultureAssertion of individual rightsEmphasis on fairness and competitionA shared commitment to individualismBelief that government is responsible to the citizensStrong belief in equalityCopyright © 4 | 11
Equality, but . . .Americans generally believe more strongly in political than in economic equalityAmericans believe in equality of opportunity but not necessarily equality of resultsAmericans support the free market, but do believe in some limits Copyright © 4 | 12
9/2/2014
5
What is The American
Dream?
Defining the American Political
Culture
LO 4.1
Back to learning objectives
Read “The New American Dream: It’s not What You Think.” at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-levin/the-new-american-dream-
it_b_3874015.html
Figure 4.1: Trust in the Federal Government, 1968-2009
Copyright © 4 | 15
University of Michigan, The National Election Studies.
9/2/2014
6
Mistrust of GovernmentIncreased mistrust since the 1960sCauses: Watergate, Vietnam War, Clinton impeachment, Iraq WarConfidence in government changes, but not confidence in American SystemCopyright © 4 | 16
Civic DutyCivic Duty:Civic Duty:Civic Duty:Civic Duty: a belief that citizens SHOULD participate in governmentCopyright © 4 | 17
Civic CompetenceCivic competence:Civic competence:Civic competence:Civic competence: a belief that citizens CAN affect government policiesCopyright © 4 | 18
9/2/2014
7
Political Efficacy
Political efficacy: citizen’s belief in their
UNDERSTANDING of political issues
Copyright © 4 | 19
Figure 4.3: Changes in Political Efficacy, 1960-2008
Copyright © 4 | 20
University of Michigan, The National Election Studies.
Results of American Political Culture:Low voter turnout“Blind” or misinformed/uninformed votingSingle-issue votingImage/personality voting
9/2/2014
8
2000
Presidential
Voting
Political Spectrum*
100%
Personal Freedom
100%
EconomicFreedom
100% Freedom
0% Freedom
*rotate the graph to read it more clearly!
• READ THE TITLE!• READ THE AXES!
9/2/2014
9
Two Main “Camps”Liberal:Liberal:Liberal:Liberal:• Economic Regulation: a belief that
government should achieve justice and
equality of opportunity
• Social Freedom: personal freedom is as, or more, important than tradition; rules change based on circumstances of modern life and individual preferencesCopyright © 4 | 26
Conservative:
• Economic Freedom: a belief that limited
government ensures order, competitive
markets, and personal opportunity
• Social Regulation: morality is as, or more, important than self-expression; morality derives from fixed rulesLO 4.2
Back to learning objectives
Two Main “Camps”
9/2/2014
10
Criticisms of Liberalism•It relies too much on government, higher taxes,
and bureaucracy to solve the nation’s problems. •Reliance on government can destroy
individualism.
Political Ideology and Attitudes
Toward Government
LO 4.2
Back to learning objectives
Criticisms of Conservatism• Focus on deregulation and lower taxes has not
always worked: economic collapse in 2008.• Conservatives tend to favor more government
action on their issues but not on the issues of others.
• Some conservatives fail to recognize the
existence of racism and sexism.
Political Ideology and Attitudes
Toward Government
LO 4.2
Back to learning objectives