Political Culture & American Political Culture

I. Political Culture:
    A. Widely shared beliefs, values, norms concerning the relationship of citizens to government
    B. 4 components:
        1. dominant conceptions of reality
        2. conceptions of authority
        3. conceptions of purpose
        4. emotional attitudes
      ** How people answer these questions is vital to the political culture. **

II. American Political Culture
    1. Classical liberalism:
        a. stresses importance of individual & freedom, equality, private property, limited government, popular consent
        b. relates back to natural rights/ law of nature
    2. Specific values:
        a. liberty
        b. equality
        c. individualism
        d. Democracy, Govt., and Constitution
        e. justice and “Rule of Law”
        f. Nationalism, optimism, idealism