Political Culture, Ideology, and Characteristics of Opinion

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on political culture, ideology, and public opinion.

Political Culture

The broad pattern of ideas, beliefs, and values about citizens and government held by a population.

Elazar's Definition of Political Culture

Includes fundamental beliefs about the proper role of government, the relationship of the government to its citizens, and who should govern.

Importance of Political Culture

Creates expectations, norms, and 'rules'; sets boundaries for the form of government and public policies; provides guidelines for elite and mass behavior.

Classical Liberalism

Root of American political culture, emphasizing individuals as autonomous, 'free' actors.

Individualism

Core element of American culture; each person should have authority over their own life, and the good of society follows from the good of individuals.

Procedural Guarantees

Existence of rules uniformly applied to all; emphasis on a fair playing field, not 'fair' outcomes.

Freedom/Liberty

The idea of limited government as reflected in the Bill of Rights.

Democracy

Includes popular consent and popular sovereignty.

Equality

Equality of opportunity and legal standing, not of results.

Constitutional Supremacy

Social contract theory and the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.

American Exceptionalism

The belief that Americans have a special place in the world.

Political Ideology

A coherent set of views on politics and the role of the government.

Characteristics of Public Opinion

Often uninformed, unconnected, and inconsistent.

Uninformed Public Opinion

Lack of knowledge about the branches of government and Supreme Court Justices.

Unconnected Public Opinion

Lack of 'constraint' or ability to predict opinion on one issue based on opinion on another; non-ideological.

Inconsistent Public Opinion

Support for cutting taxes while increasing spending; support for abstract principles but not specific applications.