American attitudes about government and politics: lesson overview (article) | Khan Academy

Key takeaways

Interpretations of core values affect attitudes about the role of government: Different Americans may have very different interpretations of certain core values, leading to differing opinions on the role of government.

Here’s a hypothetical example: Desiree interprets individualism to mean that the government should have no interference in the economy or the social habits of American citizens. Meanwhile, Yuki thinks that individualism means the government should not interfere with rights protected under the Bill of Rights, but should absolutely get involved if businesses or states infringe on those rights.

Many American citizens also support the idea of free enterprise, but differ when it comes to what they believe about it. For instance, some people believe it’s the federal government’s responsibility to regulate free markets and guarantee that no business is taking advantage of workers. Others believe the federal government should leave markets and workers to figure things out for themselves, and that regulations harm the economy by limiting productivity and profitability.

These interpretations of core values can lead to the development of different political ideologies. Political parties use political ideologies to inform their stances and to encourage citizens to vote for their candidates. If you believe the government should regulate free markets, vote for Candidate A! If you believe the federal government should have no involvement, vote for Candidate B!

Competing ideological differences can also lead to tension in policymaking. For example, a proposal for universal, government-sponsored health care is likely to cause tension between the competing values of equality of opportunity (everyone should have the opportunity to be healthy, regardless of their family income) and limited government (the government should not involve itself in citizens’ health; that would give it too much power over their private lives).

Check your understanding

Which of the following policies is most likely to cause tension between the competing values of free enterprise and rule of law?

Choose 1 answer:

Choose 1 answer:

• (Choice A)  

  A sporting goods store implements detailed background checks (in a state that does not require them) for individuals purchasing weapons

• (Choice B)  

  A congressional mandate requiring schools to offer classes for English language learners in order to receive federal education funding

• (Choice C)  

  A bill proposing that large corporations can purchase carbon offsets in order to exceed EPA limits on pollution

How political scientists use core values: Political scientists don’t measure how much Americans believe in values; rather, they measure the attitudes people form about these values. For instance, political scientists won’t create a survey question that asks “how much do you believe in equality of opportunity?” Instead, they’ll measure the extent to which people agree with a statement like “Federal benefits don’t go far enough to help poor people live decently and bridge opportunity gaps.”