American partiesParties were closely linked to legal practices during the colonial era, and this persisted subsequently. While that link is evident in other democraciesDemocracy, arguably it is strongest there. Politics can advance an American legal career, and the publicity associated with the latter can help the former. Judicial appointments often involve political connections, but nonetheless in their legal judgements particular judges can still disappoint those who had supported their appointments. Moreover, even highly publicized and controversial judgments may not be that incompatible with the balance of public opinion—though certainly some have been. The role of religionReligion in American society is relevant to this, America having by far the highest proportion of “believers” among established democraciesDemocracy. Although religious differences are not the only source of angerAnger they are one, and from the outset widespread displays of public angerAnger also became another characteristic of America’s democracyDemocracy.