�Chapter 10: American Political Culture�What Americans Believe

Ch. 10 Learning Targets

• 10.1 Describe Americans’ core political values.
• 10.2 Describe how political socialization, cultural factors, and life experiences shape an individual’s attitudes and beliefs about government.
• 10.3 Explain how American political culture has influenced other countries and been influenced by globalization.

Section 10.1�American Core Values

• Political culture – the dominant set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that define the relationship between citizens and government. There are 5 common features in American political culture
• 1. Individualism – the belief that individuals should be responsible for themselves and for the decisions they make.
• Young people are less likely to join a party, less likely to marry, less likely to identify with a specific religion and less likely consider themselves patriotic. Is this individualism a good or bad sign for America's future?

Section 10.1 American Core Values

• 2. Equality of Opportunity
• Everyone should have the chance to succeed based on their own effort
• Not the same as equality of result
• 3. Free enterprise/laissez-faire – an economic system in which government intrudes as little as possible in the economic transactions among citizens and businesses.
• The government does not set wages, prices, and production
• Economic questions are left to individuals and businesses
• The government does regulate industries, set taxes, and establish a budget.
• Equality and freedom contradict
• Obamacare (Affordable Care Act), COVID stimulus packages

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Americans have always felt a tension between free enterprise and equality. We are skeptical of government overreach, but expect the government to provide aide during difficult times (such as COVID or natural disasters). This tension is arguably the largest disagreement between the two parties.

Section 10.1 American Core Values

• 4. Rule of law – the principle that no one, including public officials, is above the law
• Citizens and officials respect and abide by the law equally
• Fair trials; impartial juries; decisions based on precedent; transparency of government operations
• 5. Limited government – Human beings have inherent rights that the government cannot take away
• Checks and balances, written constitution, federalism, Bill of Rights,

due process rights, frequent elections, an independent judiciary, etc.

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Should a former president enjoy presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office, and if so, to what extent? Does a former president enjoying immunity violate the rule of law?

In a historic 6-3 ruling on July 1, 2024, the Supreme Court in Trump v. United States held that former presidents have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within their core constitutional powers and at least presumptive immunity for all official acts. The ruling established that there is no immunity for unofficial acts.

Which core value is most important?

Section 10.2�Introduction

• Political socialization – the experiences and factors that shape an individual’s political values, attitudes, and behaviors.
• The most important factor to the process of political socialization is family
• Party identification is strongly linked with the family’s political beliefs
• Source of political information
• Education helps transmit norms, teach American civics, introduce students to political participation and volunteering
• Political ideology – an individual’s coherent set of beliefs about government and politics.
• Liberal or Conservative

Section 10.2�Civic and Religious �Organizations

• Catholics and Jews are more liberal than Protestants
• White Catholics voted for Trump
• Hispanic Catholics voted for Harris
• Evangelicals among the most conservative
• Muslims strongly favor Democrats
• Churches are influential because of doctrinal positions, sermons, social interaction among members
• Civic engagement helps group members develop skills and experience in organizing, public speaking, fundraising and interacting with government officials

Section 10.2�Generational and �Life-Cycle Effects

• Political views tend to change over the course of time
• Generational effect – the impact of historical events experienced by a generation upon their political views
• Life-cycle effect – the impact of a person’s age and stage in life on his or her political views
• Millennials are shaped by 9/11 like Baby Boomers are shaped by Vietnam and Watergate Scandal
• Younger people are less politically engaged than older people.
• 2024 election showed Gen Z voting more conservatively than Millenials with a massive (22%) gender gap.

Section 10.3�Globalization and American Core Values

• Globalization – the increasing interconnectedness of people, businesses, and countries throughout the world
• Blurs the lines between international and domestic politics
• America is no longer the only superpower
• China – global economic power has built up military strength
• Russia – aggressively asserts its own interests in Europe

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Section 10.3�Actors on the World Stage

• Other types of organizations have global impact besides countries
• Multinational corporations
• Companies that make, transport, and market goods and services in two or more countries
• Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs)
• Independent groups outside of the government that work toward a public cause
• Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs)
• Challenge the sovereignty of countries
• European Union; World Trade Organization

Section 10.3�The Globalized Economy

• Free trade
• Imposes few restrictions on the flow of goods and services across national borders
• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
• Free trade agreement between US, Canada and Mexico
• Criticized by Trump administration for cost of American manufacturing jobs- Negotiated New NAFTA agreement (bipartisan!)
• Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) endorsed by Obama
• Regional trade agreement struck between twelve nations
• Abandoned by Trump
• Service jobs have increased; lower prices for consumers

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The image above shows Bill Clinton signing NAFTA in 1993. The image below shows President Trump, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto in 2018.

Section 10.3�Globalization and Democracy

• Globalization can encourage democratization
• States must reach certain levels of democracy to be accepted in international organizations
• Watchdog NGOs hold authoritarian regimes accountable to an international audience
• Citizens in these countries have access to technology to better question their governments and organize

Section 10.3�The Dark Side of Globalization

• Outsourcing – occurs when a company moves its businesses to a place where labor costs are cheaper or production is more efficient because workers work longer hours
• Results in loss of jobs domestically
• May lower environmental and labor standards in foreign countries
• Weakens traditional cultures
• Connects people/groups with negative and dangerous intentions