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Chapter 1 A Changing America in a Changing World American Government: Policy & Politics, Eighth Edition TANNAHILL Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 In This Chapter We Will Cover: • • • • American political culture The international environment The demographic environment The economic environment Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 Political Culture • Refers to the widely held, deeply-rooted political values of a society • Defines the terms of political debate as well as the range of acceptable policy options Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 American Political Culture • Democracy – Ultimate political authority is vested with the people • Capitalism – Corporate and individual ownership of the means of production and markets based on supply and demand Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 Two Competing Policy Perspectives • Conservatism • Liberalism – Favors the use of governmental power to foster the individual and promote social welfare – Maintains that government power undermines individuals as well as society and should be used to defend traditional values Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 The International Environment • Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States has been the preeminent nation in the world— militarily, economically, and culturally. Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 The International Environment –U.S. Military Power • The United States spends five times as much on defense as China, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Cuba, and Libya combined . Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 The International Environment –U.S. Economic Power • The United States has the largest and most productive economy in the world. Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 The International Environment –American culture is felt worldwide: • Fashion • Music • Entertainment Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 The International Environment • Globalization – Despite U.S. preeminence, increasingly the American economy is tied to economies elsewhere. – Global terrorism, like September 11, 2001, demonstrated the U.S. is vulnerable to attack despite a strong military. Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 The Demographic Environment • Population –More than 280 million people live in the U.S. –The baby-boom generation are those born between the late 1940s and the early 1960s. Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 Average Annual Population Growth Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 The Demographic Environment • Recent Immigrants – Earlier waves of immigrants came from Europe, but recent arrivals come from Latin America or Asia. – An estimated five million illegal immigrants reside in the U.S. – The illegal immigrant population is concentrated in the states of California, Texas, New York, and Florida. Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 The Demographic Environment • Population Distribution – The population is shifting from the Frostbelt to the Sunbelt. – 80 percent of Americans live in urban areas. • Population Ethnicity – – – – – 75 % White *13 % Latino 12 % African American 4 % Asian American 1% Native American * Numbers exceed 100% because Latinos may be of any race. Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 The Economic Environment • The United States has a gross domestic product (GDP) of $9.5 trillion—larger than any other nation. • The per capita (per person) GDP of the U.S. is $33,836, higher than any other nation. Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 Average Annual Per Capita Purchasing Power, Selected Countries, 2000 Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 The Economic Environment • Global Economy – Increasingly, the U.S. economy is impacted by free trade agreements like NAFTA and the emergence of high-technology industries. Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 Share of National Income Received by Each Fifth of Families: 1980-2000 Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 The Economic Environment • Income distribution – The gap has grown between the rich and the poor. – Higher percentages of minorities live in poverty. Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006 Concluding Questions • What are the major elements of American political culture? • What makes a country a democracy? • What’s different about recent trends in immigration? • How would you describe the population of the United States? • How would you describe the U.S. economy? Pearson Education, Inc.; Longman © 2006