Political Culture

Chapter 4
American Political
Culture
1. What is American political culture?

2. How does political culture differ from political
ideology?
3. Does the United States have a unique political
culture compared to other advanced industrialized
democracies?
4. Do Americans trust their government?
5. Why do Americans accept great differences in
wealth and income?
6. Why does the American government behave
differently than governments in countries with similar
constitutions?
Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning All rights reserved.
Learning Objectives
WHO GOVERNS?
1. Do Americans trust their government?
2. Why do we accept great differences in wealth
and income?
TO WHAT ENDS?
1. Why does our government behave differently
than governments in countries with similar
constitutions?
Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
Introduction
Political culture: a patterned and

sustained way of thinking about how
political and economic life ought to be
carried out
Americans believe strongly in political
equality
Political Culture
Alexis de Tocqueville wrote

Democracy in America, a
profound analysis of our
political culture.
Political Culture
At the height of immigration to this country, there was a

striking emphasis on creating a shared political culture.
Schoolchildren, whatever their national origin, were taught
to salute this countrys flag.
Underwood &
Underwood/CORBIS
Political Culture
The Political System

Liberty
Equality
Democracy
Civic duty
Individual responsibility
Political Culture
Three questions concerning the

American political system:
1. How do we know that the American people
share these beliefs?
2. How can we explain the existence in our society
of behavior that is obviously in conflict with
these beliefs?
3. Why has there been so much political conflict in
our history?
Political Culture
The Economic System

Judged by similar standards
Tolerate economic inequality
Support economic individualism and personal
responsibility
Political Culture
The Political System

Americans exhibit
Stronger sense of civic duty
Stronger sense of civic competence
Confidence in public institutions
High confidence in private institutions
Patriotism
How We Compare: Comparing

America with Other Nations
10
Attitudes in the USA and

Other Democracies
11
Political
Culture
in America
and Other
Democracies
12
The Economic System

Americans support
Equality of opportunity
No limits on income
Freedom (more than equality)

13
The Civic Role of Religion

U.S. among most religious nations
Affects U.S. politics
First Great Awakening
Abolitionist and temperance movements
Support for civil rights
Christian Coalition
Funding for faith-based nonprofits

14
Americans Beliefs about Religion,

2012
15
Personal liberty vs. social control

Class consciousness
The Culture War
Orthodox
Progressive
The Sources of Political

Culture
16
Trust declining in officials

Only 13% have trust in Congress
But trust remains in system of government
Mistrust of Government
17
Trust in the Federal

Government, 1958-2013
18
Institution
1973
2013
Churches
66%
48%
Public Schools
58
32
Newspapers
39
23
Labor unions
30
20
Big business
26
22
Congress
42
10
The military
58
76
Confidence in American
Institutions
19
New Polling Shows Public

Disapproval for the President and
Congress
20
Click picture to play video
1. Have you lost confidence in your elected

representative? Does he or she
represent your political views? What
about Congress as a whole?
2. Why do Americans tolerate economic
inequality, but not political inequality?
3. What is our most important political
value? Is it demonstrated by Congress?
New Polling Shows Public

Disapproval for the President and
Congress
Taking a closer look:
21
Civil Society
More important as trust in government
declines
Importance of social capital
Mistrust of Government
22
The American Civic Health Index
23
Democracy requires civic tolerance

Discussion of ideas
Selection of leaders
Usually no agreement on intolerance
Courts enforce constitutional protections
Political Tolerance
24
U.S. political culture fosters civic duty,

upholds constitutional protections and
supports civil liberties
Political equality most important value
Adversarial political system
Political Tolerance
25

Political Culture

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Political Culture

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Chapter 4

1. What is American political culture?

Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning All rights reserved.

Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.