The informal rules and cultural agreements that govern political behavior. Participants view these as self-serving customs of politicians — the weakest tier, considered highly expendable when the foundational order is threatened.
The republic's formal structure — branches of government, the Bill of Rights, the Electoral College. Commands genuine loyalty, but strictly conditional on protecting the moral foundation below it.
Faith, Family, Freedom, and Place. The pre-political bedrock on which democratic governance was built and is supposed to protect. Everything above is judged against it. When everything else fails, it is the only thing that holds.
The informal rules and cultural agreements that govern political behavior. Viewed as the most expendable tier — self-serving customs of politicians, easily discarded in a crisis.
Branches of government, the Bill of Rights, the Electoral College. Commands genuine loyalty, but strictly conditional on protecting the moral foundation below.
Faith, Family, Freedom, and Place. The pre-political bedrock everything above is judged against. When everything else fails, it is the only thing that holds.
ReD / SNF Agora’s architectural translation of respondents’ cognitive frameworks of legitimacy. Hover or tap each tier to explore.