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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