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and missionary activity were needed to restore the faiths.The notion of what constitutes 'America' has had to be revised or reinvented overtime and reflects the tension between a materialistic practical reality, with its restrictions, and an idealistic, abstract image ofthe nation.The Constitution is central to this structure, but it has to be interpreted by the judiciary (particularly the US Supreme Court in Washington DC) to determine whether actions of government are constitutional or not.3|Page

and missionary activity were needed to restore the faiths. Generally however, religious belief,
observation and a diversity of faiths became defining features of American society, when compared
with other countries.
Although religion is a private matter and constitutionally separate from the state, it informs
aspects of social, economic and political life beyond the purely denominational. The precise
influence of religion on many areas of American life, such as education, politics and ethics,
continues to be hotly debated. Despite a desire to keep religion out of politics, some critics question
whether it is realistic to deny religion a full and active part in public life.
II-Political-Legal Culture:
The third major American culture consists of political-legal elements; its nature has been
largely shaped by the Constitution. The Constitution is central to this structure, but it has to be
interpreted by the judiciary (particularly the US Supreme Court in Washington DC) to determine
whether actions of government are constitutional or not. The political system has layers of
institutional checks and balances at various state and federal levels, which can sometimes result in
stalemate.
However, these features do help to solidify the society and move it towards consensus or
centrist policies. Idealized versions of 'America' constructed through its federal and state political
bodies and a general respect for the law can potentially minimize conflict.
The need in the political-legal culture for balance and compromise illustrates the degree of
abstraction that is involved in defining 'the USA' and 'Americanness'. The notion of what
constitutes 'America' has had to be revised or reinvented overtime and reflects the tension between
a materialistic practical reality, with its restrictions, and an idealistic, abstract image ofthe nation.
Responses to pluralism have often resulted in consensus politics based on political and
judicial compromise. US politics are not normally considered to be as oppositional as in other
nations, although historically there has been an underlying 60 percent support for the Democratic
Party and 40 percent for the Republican Party. In the 2008 presidential election, the Democrats
received 53 percent of the popular vote, while the Republicans gained 46 percent. Differences
between party policies on minorities, the economy, education, employment, religion and social
issues can play a divisive role in US society. Voters may therefore register support and opposition
across party lines on many single issues such as abortion, the death penalty and gun control. Innon-
party terms, exit polls in the 2008 presidential election found that 22 percent of respondents
considered themselves as liberal, 44 percent were moderate and 34 percent were conservative.
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