Chapter 10: American Attitudes About Government & Politics

American political culture

a dominant set of beliefs defined by democratic ideals, principles, and core values (such as individualism, equality of opportunity, free enterprise, and rule of law)

Individualism

the belief that people have the ability to shape their lives and destinies through the choices they make

Equality of opportunity

the core American value that everyone should have an equal chance to compete

Free enterprise

an economic system in which the market determines the prices and availability of products and services, and the government intrudes as little as possible in the economic transactions among citizens and businesses.

Rule of law

the principle that no one is above the law and that every person, even those in power, is accountable and must follow the laws that govern society.

Seen in Federalist 51

Suggests that the federal judiciary will help protect the rule of law in Federalist 78

Political socialization

the process by which individuals develop their political beliefs, values, opinions, and behaviors

Political ideology

an individual’s coherent set of beliefs about government and politics

Generational effect

the impact of experiences shared by people of a similar age on their political ideology

Life cycle effect

the impact of a person’s age and stage in life on their political views

Globalization

the increasing interconnectedness of people, businesses, and countries throughout the world

Multinational companies

large companies that operate in multiple countries and conduct business across national borders

NGOs

private entities that operate independently from the government and work to address various social, economic, or environmental issues

e.g. Reporters without Borders, Transparency International, Human Rights Watch

NAFTA (North America Free Trade Agreement)

Created in 1993 between the USA, Canada, and Mexico to increase trade between the nations. It resulted in some American jobs in design and business services, but it cost Americans jobs in manufacturing.

It was replaced with USMCTA (United States, Mexico, Canada Trade Agreement) in 2020

Outsourcing

When a company moves its business to a place where labor costs are cheaper or production is more efficient due to longer working hours