American Political American Political CultureCulture

Definition: “a patterned set of ways of thinking about Definition: “a patterned set of ways of thinking about how politics and governing ought to be carried out”how politics and governing ought to be carried out”

Includes beliefs, attitudes, and opinions people have Includes beliefs, attitudes, and opinions people have about how well our government works, how much about how well our government works, how much influence they have over it (political efficacy), and how influence they have over it (political efficacy), and how tolerant they are of other’s viewstolerant they are of other’s views

Internal efficacy (personal competency): “Sometimes Internal efficacy (personal competency): “Sometimes politics and government seem so complicated that a politics and government seem so complicated that a person like me can’t really understand what’s going person like me can’t really understand what’s going on.”on.”

External efficacy (governmental responsiveness): “I External efficacy (governmental responsiveness): “I don’t think public officials care much what people like don’t think public officials care much what people like me think.” me think.”

Almond and Verba, Almond and Verba, The Civic Culture: The Civic Culture: Political Attitudes and Democracy in Five Political Attitudes and Democracy in Five Nations Nations (1963) (1963)

Five-nation studyFive-nation study

Americans had strong sense of civic Americans had strong sense of civic duty and civic competence, duty and civic competence, institutional confidence, pride in institutional confidence, pride in country and willingness to fight for it.country and willingness to fight for it.

This is crucial to democratic politics.This is crucial to democratic politics.

Characteristics of a Civic CultureCharacteristics of a Civic Culture

pride in aspects of one's nationpride in aspects of one's nation expect fair treatment from government authoritiesexpect fair treatment from government authorities talk freely and frequently about politicstalk freely and frequently about politics emotionally involved in electionsemotionally involved in elections tolerance toward opposition partiestolerance toward opposition parties valuing of active participation in local government valuing of active participation in local government

activities, parties, and in civic associationsactivities, parties, and in civic associations self-confidence in one's competence to participate in self-confidence in one's competence to participate in

politics politics civic cooperation and trustcivic cooperation and trust membership in a voluntary associationmembership in a voluntary association

Source: Daniel Schugurensky, History of EducationSource: Daniel Schugurensky, History of Education

The Culture WarThe Culture War

The most explosive political issues include The most explosive political issues include abortion, gay rights, drug use, school prayer, and abortion, gay rights, drug use, school prayer, and pornography.pornography.

Supreme Court cases that contributed to the Supreme Court cases that contributed to the country becoming so politically divided on moral country becoming so politically divided on moral and ethical issues:and ethical issues:

Engel v. Vitale (1962) banned official prayer from Engel v. Vitale (1962) banned official prayer from public schools.public schools.

Roe v. Wade (1973) struck down a Texas law that Roe v. Wade (1973) struck down a Texas law that made abortion a crime except when necessary to made abortion a crime except when necessary to save the life of the mother.save the life of the mother.

The Culture War, cont.The Culture War, cont.

The culture war differs from other The culture war differs from other political disputes in three ways: political disputes in three ways:

(a) money is not at stake, (a) money is not at stake, (b) compromise is almost (b) compromise is almost

impossible, and impossible, and (c) conflict is more profound. We (c) conflict is more profound. We

have two cultural classes locked have two cultural classes locked in a war over values.in a war over values.

Two CampsTwo Camps

Orthodox (Fundamentalist): there is a right Orthodox (Fundamentalist): there is a right and wrong, and good will be rewarded and and wrong, and good will be rewarded and evil will be punishedevil will be punished

Progressive (Secular-Humanist): consenting Progressive (Secular-Humanist): consenting adults should be able to do just about adults should be able to do just about anything in the name of personal freedom anything in the name of personal freedom

Two Camps, cont.Two Camps, cont.

Orthodox (Fundamentalist) associated with Orthodox (Fundamentalist) associated with fundamentalist Protestants or born-again fundamentalist Protestants or born-again ChristiansChristians

Progressive (Secular-humanist) associated Progressive (Secular-humanist) associated with liberal Protestants (for example, with liberal Protestants (for example, Episcopalians and Unitarians) and those with Episcopalians and Unitarians) and those with no strong religious beliefsno strong religious beliefs

Orthodox (Fundamentalist) Orthodox (Fundamentalist) CampCamp

Christian CoalitionChristian Coalition

(1989-Present)(1989-Present)

Pat RobertsonPat Robertson

Moral MajorityMoral Majority

(1979-1989)(1979-1989)

Jerry FalwellJerry Falwell

Paul Weyrich on the End of Paul Weyrich on the End of Moral MajorityMoral Majority

In 1999 Weyrich, the president of the In 1999 Weyrich, the president of the Free Congress Foundation, saidFree Congress Foundation, said

“ “ that politics itself had failed. And that politics itself had failed. And politics has failed because of the politics has failed because of the collapse of the culture. The culture we collapse of the culture. The culture we are living in becomes an ever-wider are living in becomes an ever-wider sewer. In truth, I think we are caught up sewer. In truth, I think we are caught up in a cultural collapse of historic in a cultural collapse of historic proportions, a collapse so great that it proportions, a collapse so great that it simply overwhelms politics.”simply overwhelms politics.”

The Progressive (Secular-Humanist) The Progressive (Secular-Humanist) ViewView

Two Factors Intensifying Two Factors Intensifying the Culture Warthe Culture War

More people consider themselves More people consider themselves progressives than previously.progressives than previously.

Rise of media (television, radio Rise of media (television, radio talk-shows, the Internet) makes it talk-shows, the Internet) makes it easier to wage cultural war on a easier to wage cultural war on a large scale.large scale.

The Orthodox (Fundamentalist) ViewThe Orthodox (Fundamentalist) View

The progressives (or secularists) are using the The progressives (or secularists) are using the Constitution to bludgeon any form of spirituality in Constitution to bludgeon any form of spirituality in the public arena.the public arena.

The orthodox (fundamentalist) camp maintains The orthodox (fundamentalist) camp maintains that this strategy goes against the intention of the that this strategy goes against the intention of the Founding Fathers to keep God in the public arena Founding Fathers to keep God in the public arena and uppermost in the thoughts of the people. and uppermost in the thoughts of the people.

They argue that what the Founders did not want They argue that what the Founders did not want was any one religion imposed by the government. was any one religion imposed by the government. For example, in 1781, Jefferson said: “The God who For example, in 1781, Jefferson said: “The God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?”conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?”

The Establishment Clause and The Establishment Clause and the Wall-of-Separation the Wall-of-Separation Principle Principle (page 509 in the Wilson text)(page 509 in the Wilson text)

Amendment I: “Congress shall make Amendment I: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of no law respecting an establishment of religion ….”religion ….”

The Supreme Court has interpreted The Supreme Court has interpreted this vague phrase to mean that the this vague phrase to mean that the Constitution sets up a “wall of Constitution sets up a “wall of separation” between church and state.separation” between church and state.

The Establishment Clause:The Establishment Clause: “Congress shall make no law respecting “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion ….”an establishment of religion ….”

““Up to the last minute the clause was Up to the last minute the clause was intended to read ‘no religion shall be intended to read ‘no religion shall be established by law’ or ‘no national established by law’ or ‘no national religion shall be established.’ The religion shall be established.’ The meaning of those words seems quite meaning of those words seems quite clear: whatever the states may do, the clear: whatever the states may do, the federal government cannot create an federal government cannot create an official, national religion or give support official, national religion or give support to one religion in preference to to one religion in preference to another.” (Wilson, p. 509)another.” (Wilson, p. 509)

The Establishment Clause:The Establishment Clause: “Congress shall make no law respecting “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion ….”an establishment of religion ….”

““But Congress instead adopted an But Congress instead adopted an ambiguous phrase, and so the Supreme ambiguous phrase, and so the Supreme Court had to decide what it meant. It has Court had to decide what it meant. It has declared that these words do not simply declared that these words do not simply mean ‘no national religion’ but mean as mean ‘no national religion’ but mean as well no government involvement with well no government involvement with religion at all, even on a nonpreferential religion at all, even on a nonpreferential basis. They mean, in short, erecting a basis. They mean, in short, erecting a ‘wall of separation’ between church and ‘wall of separation’ between church and state.”state.”

Evidence of the Assault on Moral Evidence of the Assault on Moral ValuesValues

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in California The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in California ruled that the word of God is unconstitutional in ruled that the word of God is unconstitutional in the Pledge of Allegiance.the Pledge of Allegiance.

In Alabama, a federal court ordered the Ten In Alabama, a federal court ordered the Ten Commandments removed from a state Commandments removed from a state courthouse.courthouse.

In Santa Fe ISD v. Doe (2000) , a 6-to-3 Supreme In Santa Fe ISD v. Doe (2000) , a 6-to-3 Supreme Court decision held that a student in a Texas Court decision held that a student in a Texas public school violated the Constitution by offering public school violated the Constitution by offering a public prayer before a high school football a public prayer before a high school football game.game.

Evidence of the Assault on Moral Values, Evidence of the Assault on Moral Values, cont.cont.

Writing for the majority, Justice John Paul Writing for the majority, Justice John Paul Stevens stated: “School sponsorship of a Stevens stated: “School sponsorship of a religious message is impermissible.”religious message is impermissible.”

Chief Justice William Rehnquist, one of the Chief Justice William Rehnquist, one of the three dissenting justices, wrote: “Even more three dissenting justices, wrote: “Even more disturbing than its holding is the tone of the disturbing than its holding is the tone of the court’s opinion; it bristles with hostility to all court’s opinion; it bristles with hostility to all things religious in public life.”things religious in public life.”

Lawrence v. Texas (2003)Lawrence v. Texas (2003)

6-3 ruling, said individuals have a constitutional right 6-3 ruling, said individuals have a constitutional right to engage in homosexual actsto engage in homosexual acts

Reversed Bowers v. Hardwick (1986), which upheld Reversed Bowers v. Hardwick (1986), which upheld sodomy lawssodomy laws

The decision established a precedent that threatens The decision established a precedent that threatens any law based on moral choices. any law based on moral choices.

In his dissenting opinion Justice Scalia wrote: “The In his dissenting opinion Justice Scalia wrote: “The court has taken sides in the culture war,” adding that court has taken sides in the culture war,” adding that he has “nothing against homosexuals, or any other he has “nothing against homosexuals, or any other group, promoting their agenda through normal group, promoting their agenda through normal democratic means.”democratic means.”

Significance of the Culture Significance of the Culture WarWar

Tensions generated by the culture war Tensions generated by the culture war affect our views as to how well the affect our views as to how well the government works (or trust in government works (or trust in government), sense of political efficacy, government), sense of political efficacy, and tolerance for views we dislike and tolerance for views we dislike (fragile under the best of (fragile under the best of circumstances).circumstances).

How have trust in the federal How have trust in the federal government, public confidence in government, public confidence in institutions, and views of tolerance and institutions, and views of tolerance and morality changed over time?morality changed over time?

Figure 4.1: Trust in the Federal Figure 4.1: Trust in the Federal Government, 1958-1998 (Page 93)Government, 1958-1998 (Page 93)

When did trust in the federal government begin to decline? When did trust in the federal government begin to decline? Why? When did the largest single decline in trust occur? Why? When did the largest single decline in trust occur? Why? Why?

What do you think is the level of trust in government What do you think is the level of trust in government today?today?

Figure 4.1: The Decline of Trust in Figure 4.1: The Decline of Trust in the Federal Government, 1958-1998 the Federal Government, 1958-1998

(Page 93)(Page 93) In the early 1960s about 75% trusted the In the early 1960s about 75% trusted the

federal government to do “what is right” federal government to do “what is right” all or most of the time.all or most of the time.

After 1964 there began a precipitous drop.After 1964 there began a precipitous drop. In 1974, trust in the federal government In 1974, trust in the federal government

declined to 36%declined to 36% … … 25% in 1980 (following the Carter years)25% in 1980 (following the Carter years) … … 20% in 199420% in 1994

1994 – Republicans took control of House1994 – Republicans took control of House

Page 94

Which two institutions suffered the greatest losses in popular confidence during the 26 years covered by the surveys? Between which of the years covered by the surveys did each of the greatest declines take place? How confident are Americans in other institutions?

Source: The American Enterprise (January/February 1999): 37, reporting data from Roper, Washington Post, Harvard, and Kaiser Family Foundation polls.

What is the greatest worry of Americans? What is most important to Americans? What do most Americans see as a major cause of problems today?

Figure 4.4 Views of Toleration and Morality (Page 97)

Figure 4.5: Changes in Levels of Political Figure 4.5: Changes in Levels of Political Tolerance, 1930-1999 (Page 99)Tolerance, 1930-1999 (Page 99)

Source: Gallup poll data, various years, as compiled by Professor John Zaller, Department of Political Science, UCLA; The Gallup Organization, Poll Releases (March 29, 1999), 2-6.

Which categories of candidates have gone from less than 50 percent acceptability to more than 50 percent?

Which categories are still not acceptable to the majority?

Conclusion: Are the linchpins Conclusion: Are the linchpins for America’s democracy still in for America’s democracy still in place?place? ““The American system of government is The American system of government is

supported by a political culture that supported by a political culture that fosters a sense of civic duty, takes pride fosters a sense of civic duty, takes pride in the nation’s constitutional in the nation’s constitutional arrangements, and provides support for arrangements, and provides support for the exercise of essential liberties. In the exercise of essential liberties. In recent decades mistrust of government recent decades mistrust of government officials has increased, and confidence officials has increased, and confidence in their responsiveness to popular in their responsiveness to popular feelings has declined.” (Wilson, p. 99) feelings has declined.” (Wilson, p. 99)