Political Ideology & Socialization

1. Political Ideology & Socialization American Government

2. Ideology • Ideology: a set of basic beliefs about life, culture, government, and society. • Political Ideology: An individual’s or group’s set of beliefs about governmental or political structures and functions.

3. Political Socialization • How an individual acquires their sense of political identity. • There are four major agents of political socialization.

4. Agent 1: Home and Family • Observe and copy parents • Tend to follow same ideology pattern • Information is filtered based on ideology of parents

5. Agent 2: School • Teach citizenship and societal values • Teach democratic principles • Usually first knowledge of how system works

6. Agent 3: Peers • Share similar ideas • Reinforce attitudes • Desire for acceptance maychange family ideas

7. Agent 4: Media • Greatest source of information • Generates interest in issue that may not have been of concern

8. How is Ideology Used in Gov’t? • Political Planks - the individual issues or beliefs of a politician or citizen. • Political Platforms - the set of planks that a politician or citizen stands on. • Political Parties - groups of people with similar political platforms who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct government, and determine public policy.

9. Major Ideologies 1. Conservatives 2. Liberals 3. Centrists (Moderates)

10. Political Scale

11. Political Scale

12. Liberals Minorities support Live in urban areas (major cities) Blue Collar workers Support social programs Support a larger government to provide services Focus on social freedoms Conservatives Small towns/suburbs White Collar workers Support less business regulations Support a smaller government – community Focus on economic freedoms Gov’t regulates some behaviors on morality Democrats Republicans

13. Citizenship in the United States

14. SSCG7 The student will describe how thoughtful and effective participation in civic life is characterized by obeying the law, paying taxes, serving on a jury, participating in the political process, performing public service, registering for military duty, being informed about current issues, and respecting differing opinions.

15. NATURAL BORN Citizenship JUS SOLI • Right of soil • If born in the U.S., then you are a U.S. citizen JUS SANGUINIS • Right of blood • If parents are citizens, then you are

16. Naturalization Becoming a US Citizen: • 5 years resident in the U.S. (3 if married to a U.S. citizen) • Read, write, and speak English (unless they are over 50 years of age and have lived in the US for at least 20 years) • Good moral character • Understanding of American History and Government (pass a test)

17. Naturalization process • File declaration of intent with the Attorney General • Submit petition • Investigation and testing • Oath • NATURALIZED CITIZEN

18. Could you pass the test?

19. Participating in Government Citizens can PARTICIPATE, by… Voting—the legitimacy of the US government depends upon “the consent of the governed”… Campaigning or working for a political party or movement… Writing letters to the editor of a newspaper or magazine about political issues… Protesting the actions of the government in a legal and orderly manner.

20. Obeying the Law Laws are passed to make citizens safe and must be followed if the society is going to work. Laws set guidelines for personal behavior, business practices, elections, and even operation of cars. They reduce areas of uncertainty, and therefore they limit conflict. When conflict does arise, laws can be applied by court judges and juries, who use such laws as an impartial basis on which to settle conflict. Not every law has been perfect; many have been changed over the years when enough people stand up to challenge a law that they feel is unfair or unconstitutional (doesn't follow our Constitution).

21. Citizenship and Taxes The government must pay for the goods and services it provides to its citizens. This is done with tax revenues, making it a responsibility of U.S. citizenship.

22. Citizens and the Military The US currently has a volunteer military… However, the US also has the right to staff its military using the draft. Since 1980, all young men have been required to register with Selective Service—To register for the draft when and if it is ever reinstituted.

23. Jury Duty If you are registered to vote, or have a driver’s license…You might be called to serve jury duty. The Constitution stipulates that accused persons must be tried by a jury of one’s peers… This is a RIGHT of any citizen…The corresponding RESPONSIBILITY is that citizens must serve jury duty.

24. Knowledge about Current Issues Knowledge about current issues and world affairs is ESSENTIAL if you are going to make informed voting decisions.

25. Respect for Differing Opinions “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”—Voltaire. Participation in the government demands the ability to listen to and respect the viewpoints of others. Citizens must both tolerate and be knowledgeable of different points of view. Don’t EVER take political disagreement PERSONALLY.

26. Volunteering and Public Service Citizens should be ENGAGED and recognize the importance of ACTIVE PARTICIPATION. This does not necessarily mean joining the military, or working for a political campaign… You can volunteer for the library, for food drives, for your church or for your community.

27. Summing it up: What do good citizens do? • Obey laws • Pay taxes • Serve on a jury • Participate in the political process (vote) • Perform public service (get involved) • Register for military service (Selective Service) • Stay informed on current issues • Respect differing opinions (ideologies)

28. Founding Documents and Political Philosophers

29. Hammurabi’s Code • The Code of Hammurabi was the law code of Ancient Babylon. • Established a single, uniform code of law for the entire empire. • The code is the first example of fundamental laws unchangeable even by a King

30. The Ten Commandments According to the Bible, Moses received the Ten Commandments from God In Biblical times, the Bible served as the source of law for the Hebrews of Palestine. The Commandments’ simple instructions on how individuals must behave toward one another are seen to form the basis of all Western law.

31. The Contribution of the Greeks • First to believe that laws were a humaninstitution (not dictated by the Gods) • Allowed common people to serve in state office • First government in which elected officials were paid a salary • Had the first trial by jury in recorded history • Every male citizen had the right to serve in the assembly, which passed laws and determined government policies.

32. The Influence of Ancient Rome • The Senate, a REPRESENTATIVE body was the most powerful government body. • The Senate conducted foreign policy, passed laws and handled the government’s finances. • The Romans also believed in NATURAL LAW, the idea that certain basic rights should be extended to everybody who lived under Roman rule.

33. Divine Right of Kings Throughout the Middle Ages, the concept of the “Divine Right of Kings” was generally accepted It held that the King was chosen by God because the King was speaking for God, everything he says is absolutely right… Because why would God choose a King that was capable of making poor choices?

34. Magna Carta 1215 • First attempt at a Social Contract • Provides the basic principle of limited government (one in which even a monarch must follow the rules) • Introduced the idea of fundamental rights (which can’t be taken away) • Trial by jury, due process, protection against unjust punishment, and loss of life, liberty and property

35. Petition of Right1628 • Put limits on the absolute monarchy and the power of the King – challenging divine right and the absolute monarchy • Must work with the consent of Parliament (representatives of people) • Outlines basic rights for individuals • (no tax w/o representation, no imprisonment w/o cause, no housing soldiers, no use of martial law during peace)

36. English Bill of Rights1689 • Placed clear limits on the absolute monarchy – moving toward a constitutional/parliamentary monarchy and ending absolute monarchy • Written by Parliament • Signed by King William & Queen Mary as condition of taking the throne • Provided for individual protections (with many of the rights found now found in the Constitution)

37. Limits Established by the English Bill of Rights Monarchs DO NOT have absolute power—they must rule with the consent of the peoples’ representatives in Parliament… The monarch cannot suspend laws, raise taxes or maintain an army without Parliamentary consent… The monarch cannot interfere with the business of Parliament… The people have the right to a fair and speedy trial (Habeas Corpus). The people will not be subjected to cruel and unusual punishments or excessive fines and bail.

38. Hobbes • Wrote Leviathan • Father of Natural Rights • State of nature is “nasty, brutish and short” and only the strong survive. • First to introduce social contract theory • Citizens surrender liberty to the government in exchange for protection from chaos • Focused on individual freedoms with some protection from the government

39. Locke • Wrote Two Treatises of Government • Natural Rights • Born free, equal and independent • Social Contract • Government that didn’t protect essential rights to life, liberty and property could be changed • Popular Sovereignty • People participate in their gov’t

40. Montesquieu • Wrote The Spirit of Laws • Limited Government • Separation of Powers • Legislative, Executive, Judicial • Checks and Balances

41. Foundations of American Government

42. Unit GPS • SSCG1 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the political philosophies that shaped the development of United States constitutional government. • Analyze key ideas of limited government and the rule of law as seen in the Magna Carta, the Petition of Rights, and the English Bill of Rights. • Analyze the writings of Hobbes (Leviathan), Locke (Second Treatise on Government), and Montesquieu (The Spirit of Laws) as they affect our concept of government. • SSCG2 The student will analyze the natural rights philosophy and the nature of government expressed in the Declaration of Independence. • Compare and contrast the Declaration of Independence and the Social Contract Theory. • Evaluate the Declaration of Independence as a persuasive argument. • SSCG3 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the United States Constitution. • Explain the main ideas in debate over ratification; include those in The Federalist.

43. What did we want in gov’t? • Limited government • Government has to follow the rules too • Prevents government from getting too much power • Representative government • People have a voice in their government • They elect officials who make decisions on their behalf • Individual freedoms • Guarantees to individuals like freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from unfair laws and punishments, etc. • Rule by law • Written laws so everyone knows the rules and the consequences for breaking the rules

44. Declaration of Independence • Proposed by Henry Lee, drafted by Thomas Jefferson and approved on July 2, 1776. • Approved July 4, 1776 • Lists grievances (complaints) against the king about his abuse of power • Like Locke’s social contract it says that government is the created by the people and must serve the people • Makes it clear that the government must follow rules just like the people

45. The Declaration of Independence “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal” “They are endowed by their Creator with certain UNALIENABLE rights” “Among those rights are “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” “To secure those rights, governments are INSTITUTED among men…deriving their powers from the consent of the governed”

46. The Four Stanzas of the Declaration of Independence • Part One: The Preamble, an explanation of purpose. • Part Two: An explanation of the political ideas upon which the document was based. Emphasized “Natural Rights”, such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. • Part Three: A list of grievances against King George III (examples on following slide). • Part Four: A resolution that “…these United Colonies are…and of right ought to be Free and Independent States.

47. A Selection of Grievances…against King George III • For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us. • For imposing taxes on us without our consent. • He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power. • For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world. • He has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers the merciless Indian Savages, whose know rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. • He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burned our towns and destroyed the lives of our people.

48. Articles of Confederation1777 • First written constitution for the newly independent states • Granted most of the power to the states • The national government was supposed to provide protection for the people • There was only one branch of government: Congress

49. What was the National government’s role under the Articles? • Declare war • Negotiate treaties • Settle conflicts between the states • Establish the armed forces • Borrow money from the states to pay expenses • Set national policies • Run Indian Affairs programs

50. Weaknesses of the Articles Congress could not collect taxes from the states Congress could not control the currency in the states Congress could not regulate trade/commerce 9 states were needed to make decisions ALL 13 states had to agree to amendments to the Articles there was no executive (president) or judicial (court) power Each state got 1 vote no matter how big or small Members of Congress only served 1 year terms Congress couldn’t pay the army Congress couldn’t enforce it’s laws