Lessons for life? The impact of political education on attitudes toward the United States Supreme Court
Abstract
The United States Supreme Court must rely on other courts and administrative agencies to comply with its rulings for it to continually function as a meaningful political institution. It is therefore important to understand the base of the Court's public support. While the Court has enjoyed greater levels of confidence among the mass public than either Congress or the presidency, researchers have been unable to explain from where this support comes. This thesis argues that adolescent political education is an important predictor of less salient political attitudes (such as support for political institutions). Through interviews of high school Government teachers, observation of Government classes, evaluation of textbooks, and surveys of students in Government classes, a model of support for the Court is offered. This model's strength lies primarily in the predictors that measure the students' political education. Normative arguments are made for an American Government curriculum that allows the students to be active participants by promoting a critical examination of governmental actors and processes.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Shaffer, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Political science|Social studies education|Law
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