Question

Identify the five main values/elements of the American political culture. Explain the meaning of each value. Show how these values shape our laws and influence our political and economic behavior.

Answer 1

Answer :- American political culture consist of elements that influence citizen beliefs and attitudes towards federal government. Five elements / values of American political culture are :-

(1)Equality of opportunity :- Equality of opportunity states that each individual should have equal chance or opprotunity to advance in society.

(2) ideology :- It consist of beliefs and ideas that shape political opinion and policy.

(3) individualism :- this means valuing individuals rights over government itself with emphasis on individual reponsibilty and initiatives.

(4) Limited government :- individual rights and liberties should be protected by forming government with certain restrictions .

(5) Free enterprise :- free enterprise beliefs that there must be right to compete freely in market government by supply and demand with less government involvement.

These values of American political culture influence every individual differently. Some individual may put more weight on some values than other. Because of this differences in intrepretation of values shapes citizen beliefs about political government and make them choose party favourable to their ideology.

For example :- Adam thinks that government should not interfere in the economy as well as social habits of American citizens. Meanwhile Max beliefs that individualism means government should not interfere with rights protected by the bills of rights but should act if businesses or state violate these rights.

Many of American citizen beliefs that government should not interfere in the economy by regulating laws on limiting productivity and profits while others beliefs that government should interfere in the economy by rules and regulations to ensure no businesses is taking advantages of workers.

These values lead for development of different political ideologies. Political parties use these ideologies in their campaign to gain vote from public. Such as if you believe government should regulate free market vote for candidate (A) and if not vote for candidate (B).

Competing with ideological differences will create trouble while policy making . For example a proposal of universal healthcare will create tension competing values of equality of opportunity. (Every citizen should have equal opportunity to healthcare regardless to their income)