introductory themes american political culture
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August 25-August 30 American Federal Government. Introductory Themes American Political Culture . Introductory Themes and American Political Culture. Political Power Authority Legitimacy. Conceptions of Democracy. Democratic Centralism Direct Democracy Representative Democracy - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
• Introductory Themes• American Political Culture
August 25-August 30 American Federal Government
Introductory Themes and American Political Culture
•Political PowerAuthority Legitimacy
Conceptions of Democracy
• Democratic Centralism • Direct Democracy • Representative Democracy
popular sovereigntycitizen demands and government action participation deliberationmajority rule
Majority Rule: Good or Bad?
• No guarantee of good decisions• Majority tyranny can threaten minorities• Apathy toward politics
Who Really Governs?
• Different approachesMarxist Elitist Bureaucratic Pluralist
Political Culture
• Definition A basic set of shared values, attitudes and
beliefs that differentiate Americans from citizens of other countries
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
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”?
American Political Culture Compared
• High confidence in political institutions• Lower confidence in people running
political institutions• Religiosity• Declining sense of political efficacy
Confidence in Institutions: America and Europe Compared
77
69
84 858683
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Congress(Parliament)
Courts Press Business ArmedForces
Church
Perc
ent
USGreat BritainGermanyFranceSpain
Confidence in People Running American Institutions
42
50
41
29
55
16
29
1923 22
19
29
2018 18
10
28
1216
18
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Congress SupremeCourt
FederalBureaucracy
Press MajorCompanies
Perc
ent
19661971-791980-891990-96
Religiosity: The United States Compared
Respondents who say they are a religious person
82
72
69
64
55
54
48
29
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
US
Mexico
Canada
Spain
UK
Germany
France
Sweden
Percent
Population of the US by Race and Ethnicity, 2000(Census Bureau)
White73%
African American
12%
Latino10%
Asian American
4%
Native American
1%
Population Change in the US1980-2000
Changes in U.S. Occupational Structure
Race & Ethnicity
• Blacks/African-Americans– migration, political protest, civil rights– issue divisions
• Latinos/Hispanics – diversity as a group– low political mobilization
• exception? South Florida
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
1996 Presidential Vote by Ethnicity
White Black Hispanic Asian
44 45
84
12
72
21
4249
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Perc
ent
White Black Hispanic Asian
Clinton Dole
2000 Presidential Vote by Ethnicity
White Black Hispanic Asian
42
54
90
9
65
35
55
41
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Perc
ent (
%)
White Black Hispanic Asian
Gore Bush
Class in American Politics?
• Most Americans believe they are in the middle class– What is the definition? Gingrich vs. Clinton
• Tolerance for income inequality
Income Distribution: The U.S. Compared
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)
Gender Gap in Voting: 1992/96 Vote for Clinton
1992 1996
3741
38
48
0
10
20
30
40
50
Perc
ent
1992 1996
Men
Women
Gender Gap in Voting: 2000 Election, Gore/Bush
53
4243
54
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Bush Gore
Perc
ent
Men Women
Religion in American Politics
• Secularism and protest• Values, culture, and moral issues
– abortion• Rise or Demise of the Christian Right?
– The GOP connection
Membership in the Christian Coalition, 1989-95
0200000400000600000800000
10000001200000140000016000001800000
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
Year
Num
ber o
f Mem
bers
Ideology: Moderates Carry the Day