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Chapter 1

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Learning to Think PoliticallyPolitical thinking:

Involves the careful gathering and sifting of information to form a knowledgeable view about a political issue

Important for responsible citizenship

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Learning to Think PoliticallyBarriers to political thinking

Main barrier: unwillingness of citizens to make the effort to self-inform

Changes in media consumption: more people consume biased cable television and Internet blogs

“Spin” by political leaders and government entitiesResearch shows faulty perceptions becoming more

prevalent

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Learning to Think PoliticallyWhat political science can contribute to political thinking

Political science: the systematic study of government and politics

A descriptive and analytical discipline; can increase ability to think politically

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Political Culture: Americans’ Enduring Beliefs

Political culture: Derived from a country’s traditions Defines the relationship between citizens and governmentAmerica’s core ideals are rooted in the European heritage of

the first white settlers

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Political Culture: Americans’ Enduring Beliefs

Core political values:LibertyIndividualismEqualitySelf-government

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Political Culture: Americans’ Enduring Beliefs

Core political valuesLiberty

Individuals should be free to act as they choose Unsettled land fostered freedom through migration Many fled Europe to escape religious persecution

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Political Culture: Americans’ Enduring Beliefs

Core political valuesIndividualism

The individual is paramount; government is secondary Government’s role is to serve the people Tocqueville: Americans’ chief aim is to “remain their own

masters”

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Political Culture: Americans’ Enduring Beliefs

Core political valuesEquality

European aristocratic privilege versus American equal treatment under the law

Perplexing ideal in the early years of the nation: Some were free while others were enslaved

Differing opinions on the meaning of equality persist

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Political Culture: Americans’ Enduring Beliefs

Core political valuesSelf-government

American colonials had substantial self-determination Vision of a self governing nation with powers “…from the

consent of the governed”

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Political Culture: Americans’ Enduring Beliefs

The limits and power of America’s idealsAmerica’s cultural beliefs are idealisticFailures to meet the high ideals:

Slavery Post-slavery “Jim Crow” era Racial immigration and property restrictions

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Political Culture: Americans’ Enduring Beliefs

The limits and power of America’s idealsReaching to meet the high ideals:

Abolition and suffrage movements Emancipation Civil rights movement Public education Higher education

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Politics and Power in AmericaPolitics: the means by which society settles its conflicts

and allocates the resulting benefits and costsPower: the ability of persons, groups, or institutions to

influence political developmentsAuthoritarian and totalitarian governments:

nondemocratic, repressive regime types

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Politics and Power in AmericaA democratic system

System in which the people govern, by direct or representative means

In practice, majority rule through the free and open election of representatives

Majoritarianism: the majority effectively determines what government does

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Politics and Power in AmericaA democratic system

Pluralism: the preferences of special interests largely determine what government does

Authority: the recognized right of officials to exercise power

Contrast with authoritarian government that represses opposition through intimidation, restriction of rights, and even imprisonment and physical abuse

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Politics and Power in AmericaA constitutional system

The Constitution: elaborate checks and balances, Bill of Rights

Constitutionalism: idea that there are lawful restrictions on government’s power

Restraints on majority powerJudicial action channel through which ordinary citizens can

exercise power

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Politics and Power in AmericaA free-market system

Operates mainly on private transactionsSome government intervention through regulatory, taxing,

and spending policiesTax rate much lower in U.S. than in European countriesCorporate power: influence firms have over policymakersElitism: power exercised by the influential few

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Politics and Power in AmericaWho does govern?

Defining characteristic of American politics: widespread sharing of power

Women and minorities initially excluded; their power will steadily grow over time

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The Text’s OrganizationThe constitutional systemThe political role of citizens and intermediariesGoverning officials, the elective institutions, and their

appointive bodiesFocus on public policies throughout bookFocus on difficulty of governing effectively, and how

important it is to try