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Ideas that Shape American

Politics
Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
www.politico.com

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
The Spirit of American Politics
Who Governs?

A republic is a system of
government that places the ultimate
governing power in its people, who
may rule directly or via
representatives.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
The Spirit of American Politics
Who Governs?

Pluralist theory suggests that people can influence government


through the many interest groups that spring up to champion
everything from fighting global warming to banning abortions.
Elite theory counters that power actually rests in the hands of a small
number of wealthy and powerful individualsespecially corporate
executives and top government officials.
Bureaucratic theory argues that real control lies with the millions of
men and women who carry out the day-to-day operations of modern
government.
Social movement theory emphasizes the power citizens can wield
when they organize and rise up in protestregardless of who is in
control of day-to-day politics.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
The Spirit of American Politics
How Does American Politics Work?

Ideas provoke controversies on the values that determine


how America is to be governed.

Politics defined:

Who gets what, when, and how.

Politics is how a society makes its collective decisions.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
The Spirit of American Politics
How Does American Politics Work?

Institutions are the organizations, norms, and rules that


structure political action.
Checks and balances

Leadership is vested in the few (elite founders, expert


bureaucrats, judges appointed for life).

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
What Does Government Do?

Americans prefer voluntary groups to government action


(only 24% of Americans trust the federal government).

Yet the U.S. operates a large government.

Compared to citizens of other nations, U.S. citizens pay


less in taxes; around one-half of all economic activity
goes to the government.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Federal budget is $4.1 trillion annually; more
than 61% ($2.4 trillion) of federal spending goes
toward four programs: military, Social Security,
Medicare, Medicaid

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
A Nation of Ideas

The Declaration of Independence articulates seven big


American ideas:

1. Liberty
2. Self-rule
3. Limited government
4. Individualism
5. The American dream
6. Equality
7. Faith in God

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Liberty
The Land of the Free

Freedom means that the


government will protect your life, your
liberty, and your property from the
coercion of others (including public
officials) in order to permit you to
pursue your goals.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Liberty
The Two Sides of Liberty

Negative liberty emphasizes a lack of constraints on


individuals, even if those constraints are to help others.
Strong proponents are libertarians (those who believe in
minimal government).

Positive liberty requires the community to help


everyone satisfy their basic needs.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Liberty
The Idea of Freedom is Always Changing

Liberty has grown with time.

Some scholars see it as an inevitable growth that reflects


the American ideal; others, as a constant battle that can
always go either way.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Self-Rule

Self-rule is the idea that legitimate


government flows from the people.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Self-Rule
One Side of Self-Rule: Democracy

A democracy is a government in
which citizens rule directly and make
government decisions for
themselves.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Self-Rule
Another Side of Self-Rule: a Republic

A republic is a government in which


citizens rule indirectly and make
government decisions through their
elected representatives.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Self-Rule
A Mixed System

We can say that the United States is


a democratic republic because it
includes elements of a democracy
and of a republic.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Limited Government
The Origins of Limited Government

Americans distrust centralized


leadership and have constantly
sought to limit its power.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Limited Government
And Yet... the United States Has a Big Government

Conservatives: Americans who believe in reduced


government spending, personal responsibility, traditional
moral values, and a strong national defense. Also known
as right or right-wing.

Liberals: Americans who value cultural diversity,


government programs for the needy, public intervention
in the economy, and individuals right to a lifestyle based
on their own social and moral positions. Also known as
left or left-wing.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Limited Government
Limits on Government Action

When the framers designed our political institutions, they


built suspicion of government right into the system.

The federal Constitution includes an intricate system of


checks and balances on power.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Limited Government
When Ideas Clash:
Self-Rule and Limited Government
Complicated checks and balances limit government
action except on essential issues such as national
security.

Paradox creates impediments for responding to major


emergencies or implementing the will of the majority.

The ideal of limited government often conflicts with the


ideal of self-rule.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Individualism

Individualism is the idea that


individuals, not the society, are
responsible for their own well-being.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Individualism
Community Versus Individualism

Social democracy is a government


in which citizens are responsible for
one anothers well-being and use
government policy to ensure that all
are comfortably cared for.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Individualism
The Roots of American Individualism:
Opportunity and Discord

Golden Opportunity
Social Conflict

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Individualism
Who We Are: Individualism and Solidarity?

Individualism contrasts with the idea of emphasizing a


community.

Based on solidaritypeople have a tight bond to


watch out for one another.

Some Americans have elements of thisimmigrants.

Individualism focuses on helping everyone choose their


own interests so they work hard.

The idea is that everyone will get ahead through greater


creation of wealth.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
The American Dream

Benjamin Franklin summarized what


later became known as the American
Dream: If you are talented and work
hard, you can achieve personal (and
especially financial) success.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
The American Dream
Spreading the Dream

Ordinary citizens cared about getting rich, so


facilitating wealth creation became a function
of government.
Enabling the dream of success remains an
important part of any policy debate.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
The American Dream
Challenging the Dream

Is the system tilted toward the wealthy?


Does the American Dream promote the wrong
values?

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Equality
Three Types of Equality

Social equality: All individuals enjoy the


same status in society.
Political equality: All citizens have the
same political rights and opportunities.
Economic equality: A situation in which
there are only small differences in
wealth among citizens.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Equality
How Much Economic Inequality Is Too Much?

In 1965, the average CEO made 26 times the salary of


the average employee; today its 300-500 times more.

Median: A statistical term for the number in the middle or


the case that has an equal number of examples above
and below it

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Religion
Still a Religious Country

86% of Americans say they believe in God.

Almost 56% belong to a church.

Nearly 47% attend church regularly.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
Religion
So Many Religions

16 different Christian denominations (each with more


than a million members)

Over 6.7 million Jews

Some 3 million Muslims

Seven other non-Christian groups with over 100,000


adherents each

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics
How Do Ideas Affect Politics?
Ideas in American Culture

Political culture: The orientation of citizens of a state


toward politics.

Culture develops slowly over time, shaped by history and


experience.

CHAPTER 1: Ideas that Shape


American Politics

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