Americans & Their Political Values
Chapter 01: Americans & Their Political Values
Introduction
Contributors: Benjamin Ginsberg, Theodore J. Lowi, Margaret Weir, Caroline J. Tolbert, Andrea L. Campbell, Megan Ming Francis.
The Citizen and Government
Example of Hayat Muse:
High school student in Minnesota.
Worked 15-20 hours a week at a coffee shop.
Filed for unemployment benefits due to the COVID-19 pandemic when both her job and school were shut down.
Initially received unemployment benefits, but Minnesota later demanded repayment based on a law prohibiting high schoolers from receiving such benefits.
Hayat collaborated with others to change the law and ultimately succeeded in a lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Result: Minnesota was ordered to pay the federal unemployment benefits to affected high school students.
Government Definitions
Government: Refers to institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled.
Politics: Refers to conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments.
Is Government Needed?
A government is essential for providing services known as "public goods."
Public goods: Goods needed by citizens that they cannot provide adequately for themselves.
Examples:
Defense against foreign aggression.
Maintenance of public order.
Stable currency.
Enforcement of contractual obligations.
Property rights and some measure of economic security.
Forms of Government: Structure, Size, and Operation
Governments vary by size, structure, and operation based on who governs:
Autocracy: A single individual, like a king or dictator, rules.
Oligarchy: A small group, such as wealthy merchants or military leaders, controls major decisions.
Democracy: A system allowing citizens to play a significant part in government processes, often through elections of key officials.
The Presence of Government in the Daily Life of a Student at “State University”
7:00 AM: Wakes up. Standard time set by the national government.
7:10 AM: Showers with water provided by local government. Uses toothpaste verified by a federal agency.
7:30 AM: Breakfast. Nutrition requirements and pasteurization laws set by federal and state governments.
8:30 AM: Commuting. Roads subsidized by local and state governments; federal laws mandate safety gear in vehicles.
9:00 AM: Class attended with tuition partially covered by federal loans.
Noon: Lunch in state-financed cafeteria.
2:00 PM: Class in American Government 101.
4:00 PM: Class in Computer Science 101, equipment subsidized by government funding.
6:00 PM: Dinner of inspected food, ensuring safety through federal regulations.
10:00 PM: Home with street lighting paid for by local government.
Forms of Government: Limiting Government
Governments also differ in how they limit governance:
Constitutional government: Limits placed on powers of government, ensuring checks and balances.
Authoritarian government: No formal limits on government power, though it may be restrained by social institutions.
Totalitarian government: No limits; seeks to control all aspects of society, eliminating challenges to its authority.
Democracy in the United States
Most perceptions of government in the U.S. describe it as a democracy, but this is incomplete.
Direct democracy: Citizens vote directly on laws and policies (e.g., referenda).
Representative democracy (republic): Citizens select representatives for decision-making roles.
125 referenda in 2022 included topics like legalizing marijuana and election policies.
Influencing the Government through Participation
Harold Lasswell defines politics as a struggle over who gets what, when, and how.
Political participation includes:
Voting, donating money, petitioning, campaigning, protesting, etc.
Group politics or pluralism emerges from struggles among various interest groups attempting to influence government decisions.
Politics and Direct Action
Direct action can include:
Violent and nonviolent civil disobedience (e.g., protests).
Attempts to shock or pressure rulers into compliance.
Political Knowledge
Citizenship defined as membership in a political community, incurring legal rights and responsibilities.
Political knowledge is crucial for effective participation.,
Encompasses awareness of governmental structures, actors, and political issues.
Disinformation
Disinformation: false information shared to achieve a political aim, complicates citizens' access to valid information.
Surveys indicate many Americans lack basic knowledge of governmental functions and current issues.
Only 56% could identify all three branches of government; 35% knew the term of office for senators is 6 years.
Political Efficacy
Political efficacy: belief in one's ability to influence government actions.
Decline in efficacy observed, with 25% feeling their opinions mattered in 1960 down to 71% by 2019.
Knowledge of Government among Americans
Survey results:
56% could identify all three branches.
39% understood First Amendment freedoms do not guarantee free speech on social media.
53% knew the congressional veto override requires a two-thirds majority.
61% recognized 5-4 Supreme Court rulings dictate binding decisions.
Who Are Americans? Population and Immigration
Historical population growth from 3.9 million in 1790 to 333 million in 2022, with increasing diversity.
81% traced roots to England in 1790; diverse influx by 1900 included southern and eastern Europeans.
Native Americans and U.S. Citizenship
Citizenship extended to African Americans post-1868 via the 14th Amendment.
Native Americans were not counted in the first census; gained citizenship only in 1924.
Immigration and American Diversity
The Immigration Act of 1924 limited immigration and established quotas favoring certain European countries.
By 1970, foreign-born population dwindled to 5% due to restrictive policies.
Demographic Shift: Race and Ethnicity
2020 U.S. Census data:
White: 61.6%, Asian: 6%, Black: 12.4%, Latino: 18.7%.
12 million undocumented immigrants primarily from Latin America.
Age and Political Participation
Young voters (18-24 years old) had historically low turnout rates (43% in 2016, but increased substantially in 2020).
American Political Values
Foundational American values: Liberty, Equality, Justice.
Liberty: freedom from governmental control, including personal and economic freedoms.
Equality: includes equality of opportunity; the obligation of government to ensure this is debated.
Justice: complicated practice related to fairness in legal processes and social justice movements.
Attitudes Toward Government
Distrust in federal government has risen from three-quarters trust in the 1960s to just 24% in 2021.
Trust remains higher in state and local governments than in federal agencies.
Public Opinion Poll Data
Various polls gauge American sentiment on the government’s performance and the public's confidence.
Key questions cover impact of government decisions, trustworthiness, and political awareness among citizens.
Conclusion
The political landscape of the United States is influenced by historical contexts, civic engagement trends, and the evolving demographic dimensions affecting participation and representation.
Based on your exam instructions, your primary focus should be on understanding the core concepts, ideas, and terminology presented in the notes. Key definitions such as government, politics, public goods, forms of government (autocracy, oligarchy, democracy, constitutional, authoritarian, totalitarian), and political values (liberty, equality, justice) are crucial. You should also understand terms like political participation, political knowledge, disinformation, and political efficacy.
While the exam avoids specific dates and names in general questions, it does emphasize major court cases and milestone events. In the provided notes, the case of Hayat Muse, a high school student who successfully challenged a state law regarding unemployment benefits, is a significant example of a citizen influencing government through legal means. Other milestone events include the extension of U.S. citizenship to African Americans post-1868 via the 14th Amendment and to Native Americans in 1924, as well as the impact of the Immigration Act of 1924 on demographic shifts. Familiarity with these events, focusing on their significance and impact rather than just their dates, will be beneficial.
The emphasis should be on applying these concepts and understanding their impact, rather than memorizing isolated facts. Completing additional InQuizitive questions, as suggested, will help reinforce these conceptual understandings.