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Notes and Apuntes I. INTRODUCTION A. US, B. Britain, and France western countries with effectively set up representative democracies B. Three various political disparities among nations three categories: 1. constitutional, demographic, cultural II. POLITICAL CULTURE A. Intro 1. constitutional divergences pretty apparent and easy to recapitulate a. America & France have written, G. Britain does not. b. US separate powers amongst 3 equal branches of federal government i. UK has parliamentary system: legislature picks a prime minister from its own level ii. France has a semi-presidential or quasi-parliamentary system partitioned into three branches President elects a prime minister from majority party in lower house of parliament Prime minister uses most executive powers 2. demographic differences also uncomplicated a. US: big, over 300 million citizens i. dominant language: English, but millions speak Spanish ii. 1/6 of population is Hispanic iii. over 80% are Christians further divided between Catholics (1/4) and more than a dozen denominations of Protestantism b. France and UK: each about 60 million people i. Small, growing immigrant & foreign born sub-populations Most French: catholic Most British: Church of England (Anglican) or Church of Scotland Neither countries have a lot of people who go to church 3. difference between those countries are more profound; each has a distinct political culture a. most Americans, French, British think democracy is good, approve of majority rule, and believe in recognizing minority rights. i. Few would say that a leader who loses office should be able to re-take it by force.
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AP Government
AP Government
AP Government
COMPARING AMERICA
WITH
A. Intro 1. Americans like own country more than euor like their own coutrnies [71% of Americans] 2. Americans think kids should learn value of ahrd work; belief in god is necessary for moralities. a. Eorus have contrasting views: i. About relgion. ii. Think outside forces determine success in life. B. The Political System 1. Sweden has well-developed democratic government; constitution, free speed, elected legislature, comptering political parties, honesty and nonpartisan bureaucracy.
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OTHER NATIONS
AP Government
THE SOURCES
OF
A. Intro 1. some experiences give Americans a concern of asserting and mainating rights. a. American revolution, fought over liberty. b. Constitution asserted personal liberty and and reconciled it with social control
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POLITICAL CULTURE
AP Government
MISTRUST
OF
A. Intro 1. people distrustful of political authorities, not system. a. More supportive than other euros of their country. b. Striking decline in faith in leaders. i. 1960s Vietnam war.
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GOVERNMENT
AP Government
POLITICAL TOLERANCE
A. Intro 1. democracy reliant on people tolerance of ideas and actions otherwise it would fail. a. Does not mandate perfect tolerance. i. Just let there be discussion of ideas, selectin of rulers in oppression-free sone. 2. concretely, Americans not tolerant of some group. If we do not like some groups, how do they survive? We dont act on our beliefs. Some say political officehoders are more tolerant We want to deny some group of rights, but not sure which one. Courts are apart from public opinion, can act against major sentitments Political liberty should not be take fo granted. Liberty muit be learned and oprotected.
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