The correct answer is B, civic duty, which is the concept that Americans should consider community and political affairs as important matters and constructively engage when they can.
Civic duty, the belief that an individual has responsibility to constructively engage in civic and political matters, is one the five core elements of American political culture, along with:
- Liberty – The idea that every person should have an equal chance to engage in and succeed in society, along with an equal right to vote.
- Individualism – The distinctively American idea that excluding some incapacity, people are responsible for what they do and their individual happiness.
- Democracy – The concept that government should be accountable to the people through elections.
- Equality – The idea that every person should have an equal chance to engage in and succeed in society, along with an equal right to vote.
Research has shown that historically, Americans have a higher sense of civic duty that residents in other countries, and are generally more active in political affairs. Civic competence, the belief that an individual can impact government politics, has also been shown to be higher in American than in other countries.
In recent years, research indicates that despite this tradition of civic duty, the majority of Americans have lost faith in the ability of the federal government to solve problems, and have come to believe that candidates for elected office are more interested in winning elections than in advancing the common good. In addition, recent research also shows that a large majority of Americans believe that the wealthy benefit from a system that is set up to their advantage. While this research indicates a gap between the traditional core elements of American political culture and how most Americans believe our system is operating, it is still unclear what this means in regards to a shift in American politics.
Learning Point: Civic duty is the concept that Americans should consider community and political affairs as important matters and constructively engage when they can.
Sources: James Q. Wilson, Jr., John J. DiIulio, Meena Bose, Matthew S. Levendusky " American Government Institutions and Policies," 16th Edition. & Susan Welch, John Gruhl, Sue Thomas, MaryAnne Borrelli, " Understanding American Government," 14th Edition.
