Chapter Overview

What Americans Think about Government

• Why has trust in government declined considerably in recent decades?
• Why is it important that Americans think that they can influence what the government does?

What Americans Know about Government

• Why is political knowledge the key to effective participation in political life?

Government

• What are the different forms that a government can take?
• How did the principle of limited government develop?
• How can people participate in politics and influence what the government does?

American Political Culture: Shared Values, but Disagreements over the Role of Government

• What are Americans' core political values? What are the meanings of these values?
• Does the political system uphold American political values?
• How do American political values conflict with one another