Political+Culture

Political Culture __**Vocab:** Political Culture: __how people believe politics and government should be run. Ex: Political Efficacy __Civic Duty:__ the belief that people should get involved in political and civic affairs. Ex: voting; jury duty __Civic Competence:__ the belief that you can affect government policies. __Class Consciousness:__ when you feel that you are part of an economic class. Ex: middle class __Orthodox:__ you believe morality and religion should determine how you feel about politics. __Progressive:__ believing that social problems and personal freedoms are more important than religion. __Political Efficacy:__ believing that everyone can take part in politics or internal efficacy. It is also the belief that our government will respond to citizenry or external efficacy. __Internal Efficacy:__ being able to understand politics and take part in them. __External Efficacy:__ willingness of the government to respond to citizenry __Culture War__- Debate over issues that cannot be compromised between progressives and conservatives.  **//Key Concepts://** __Culture War-__ Divided by social values ( Liberal v. Conservative) public and private morality debate orthodox v progressives - __ORTHODOX__- fundamental protestants, conservative, pro- life, for the death penlaty
 * Compromise almost impossible
 * no money at stake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELfiVTTb5Jw

__PROGRESSIVE__- liberal, no strong religious beliefs, growing in number, pro-choice, anti-capital punishment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOpTAL50bl8

__Mistrust of Government__- has increased since 1950s //__Causes of mistrust__//- Watergate, Vietnam, Clinton impeachment SEPT 11th cause for patriotic fever increase in trust of gov
 * 1950 25% of Americans trusted American gov. most of the time
 * 1992 2/3 said public officials didn't care about them or their needs

__Why Democracy could work in the United States__
 * Stated by Alexis DeTocqueville
 * No feudal aristocracy, minimal taxes, few legal restraints
 * westward movement, territory gives opportunities
 * small, independent farms
 * "Moral and intellectual characteristics"(political culture)