American Political Culture:

Seeking a More Perfect Union

Chapter 1

Political Culture: The Core

Principles of American Government

Political culture: beliefs of a people about their

government and politics

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America’s Core Values

Liberty

Individualism

Equality

Self-government

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America’s Core Values

Power and limits of Americans’ ideals

Liberty vs. Security

Slavery and its long term consequences

Restricted immigration based on ethnic origin

Amount of elections

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Telling the American Story to

Children

Table 1.2

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Politics: The Resolution of Conflict

Politics is the process through which a society settles its

conflicts and decides the policies by which it will be governed.

Scarcity

Differences in values

The social contract

Thomas Hobbes: Subjects surrender freedom for protection

John Locke: Government cannot deprive subjects of certain

rights; subjects can alter or abolish the government

Jean Jacques Rousseau: Government enacts the will of the

people

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Politics: The Resolution of Conflict

Rules of the game of politics

Democracy

people govern directly or through elected

representatives

Constitutionalism: limits on government

protection of individual rights

Capitalism: our economic system

free enterprise and self-reliance

minimal governmental interference

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Political Power and Authority:

The Control of Policy Theories of Power

Majoritarianism: government by the people

Pluralism: government by groups (i.e. farmers, welfare

advocates, lawyers, etc.), not necessarily for the public

benefit

Elitism: government by a few

Bureaucratic rule: government by administrators

Who governs?

Federalist #10 argued that government is most dangerous when a single

group is powerful enough to gain full political control.

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The American Political System

Figure 1-3

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