Chapter 4- The Political System and Political Culture

1. Chapter 4- The Political System and Political Culture Dr. Dan Bertrand LEEA 544

2. U.S. Political System- FEDERALISM • Our system has a federal structure. • In Japan, UK and France only one government exercises sovereign power(passing laws and levying taxes). They have local governments • In a federal system several governments share sovereign power among themselves. The national government can not abolish the subsidiary governments. • The states actually formed the national government therefore it can not overrule the state.

3. Federalism Today • Reagan’s New Federalism gave the states more power in some areas (education) and more discretion over less federal money. • Consolidated 37 programs into a block grant. • Baker vs. Carr (1962) reaffirmed the 1 person- one vote principle resulting in the regular reapportionment of state legislative districts. • Since 1980 power in regard to education has shifted from local to the state. • Financial bailouts results in a transfer of power.

4. Government • Separation of Powers- the constitution created the executive, legislative and judicial branches to hold each other in check. • All 50 states followed suit with 3 branches. • There is some fragmentation of government at the local level. • School Boards- run by an elected School Board. • Mostly independent – financial independent or autonomous. • Other ex.) park districts, water districts, library boards, sewer districts.

5. Fragmentation through Separate Structures • Responsibilities where split between different Boards or agencies • To try to depoliticize school government separate boards where created. • Over time those with broader authority became frustrated with the lack of responsiveness of the boards or agencies and established new structures. • Privatization of some aspects of education- testing and accredidation.

6. JUDICIAL REVIEW • The courts can declare legislation unconstitutional. • The U.S. Supremen Court is the most powerful in the world. • Some consider the courts at the state level an alternate court to policy. • Legislators willingly let judges make unpopular decisions.

7. IMPLICATIONS OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM TO EDUCATION LEADERS • The 3 levels (fed, state, local), the 3 branches (executive, legislative and judicial) and the many local governments compete for power and resources. • Competitors must be identified and monitored. • Education must be persistent and develop a broad base of support.

8. Timing of Policy Concerns • Know when elections are for every public official with whom you interact. • Before an election- don’t ask for a tax increase wait until right after it. • Controversial issues are most likely to be taken on by “safe” long time politicians or lame ducks. • The changing of an administration is a good time to look for significant change.

9. The need for Networking and Building of Coalitions • “To function in isolation is to volunteer for obscurity …. Even extinction”. • How to build coalitions. • Forums- ideas are presented, discussed and debated. • Ex.) Professional organizations • Areanas- venues in which decisions about policies are made. • Ex.) State school board, union boards, corporate boards.

10. POLITICAL CULTURE • Culture- “Is the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one group or society from another… Culture is reflected in the meanings people attach to various aspects of life; their way of looking at the world and their role in it; in their values… Culture… becomes crystallized in the institutions and tangible products of a society”. • “The way we do things around here”.

11. POLITICAL CULTURE • A collective way of thinking about politics that includes beliefs about the political process, its goals and behaviors for politicians. • 3 basic political cultures • Traditionalistic • Moralistic • Individualistic

12. TRADITIONALISTIC • Dominant in the South • Characteristics • Ambivalence toward market and unrestrained commercial enterprise. • Established elite should provide political leadership. Maintain the established order. • Government is positive as long as it restricts its activities to maintaining the status quo.

13. MORALISTIC CULTURE • Is dominant in New England among Scandinavian immigrants (MN, WI) • Believe politics is a publich activity centered on some notion of the public good and devoted to public interest. • They favor an activist government that initiates new programs when necessary. • Believe it is important to debate ideas and issues. • They favor government bureaucracies and civil service systems as ways to encourage fair impartial implementation of policies.

14. INDIVIDUALISTIC CULTURE • Began in the Mid-Atlantic (PA, NJ) and spread with westward expansion. • Politics is a type of marketplace in which the government should serve a utilitarian, primarily economic purpose. • Believe government should minimally intervene in “private” spheres (business, family & churches) • People enter politics like a business to advance themselves socially and financially. • Based upon an exchange of favors. (Party machine, more susceptible to corruption.) • Tradition is more important than ideas, issues and ideology.