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Idaho's Constitution Essay

589 Words3 Pages

Idaho's constitution reflects the values and beliefs of its citizens, which can be understood through Elazar's classification of political culture. Elazar's theory suggests three dominant types of political cultures in the United States: Traditionalistic, Individualistic, and Moralistic. Even though Idaho is classified as moralistic it has many things about it that fit all three classifications. Idaho's constitution reflects the state's dominant political culture, which is a mix of Traditionalistic and Individualistic, but primarily has a traditional focus. It highlights traditional and family values by making them a part of the legislation. According to the Idaho State Constitution, for instance, "the official policy of the State of Idaho must be to support and safeguard the formation and preservation of family life and to promote the health, safety, and welfare of all Idaho residents" (Idaho …show more content…

It tends to support the interests of the wealthy, and it is characterized by a low level of political participation among the general population. In contrast, the Individualistic political culture emphasizes personal freedom, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance. It tends to support a type of government that opposes government intervention over citizens. The Idaho Constitution incorporates both Traditionalistic and Individualistic values. For example, Idaho's constitution emphasizes the importance of preserving the existing power structure by placing significant limitations on the power of the state government. The constitution limits the state's ability to experience debt, ensuring that the state's financial obligations are manageable and sustainable in the long run. The constitution also mandates that the state government must balance the budget every year, which limits the state's ability to implement large-scale spending

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