chapter 2 POLITICAL CULTURE ideas in conflict

capitalism

Economic system asserting the individuals's right to own private property and to buy, sell, rent, and trade that property in a free market. (Classical liberalism as a political idea is closely related to capitalism as an economic idea.) The role of government is restricted to protecting private property, enforcing contracts, and performing only those functions are services that cannot be performed by the private market.

cultural descriptions

are generalizations about the value and beliefs of many people in society, but these generalizations do not apply to everyone.

Political institutions

are shaped by ideas, and political leaders are influenced by them

class consciousness

awareness of one's class position and a feeling of political solidarity with others within the same class in opposition to other classes

political equality

belief that every person's vote counts equally

legal equality

belief that the laws should apply equally to all persons

class conflict

conflict between upper and lower social classes over wealth and power.

political conflict

conflict over fundamental values and beliefs. America has experienced a bloody civil way, political assassinations, rioting and burning of cities and other direct challenges to its political foundations.

equality of opportuity

elimination of artificial barriers to success in life and the opportunity for everyone to strive for success. The ability to make of oneself what one can, to develop one's talents and abilities, and to be rewarded for one's work, initiative, and achievement.

equality of results

equal sharing of income and material goods. Those who argue on behalf of this notion say that if individuals are truly equal, then everyone should enjoy generally equal conditions in life. We should appreciate an individuals' contributions to society without creating inequalities of wealth and income.

social mobility

extent to which people move upward or downward in income and status over a lifetime or over generations

amnesty

government forgiveness of a crime usually granted to a group of people

contradictions

most grievous contradiction between professed national beliefs and actual conditions in America is found in the long history of slavery, segregation, and racial discrimination. Whatever the obstacles to racial equality in American, these obstacles would be even greater if the nation's political culture did not include a professed belief in equality.

aliens

persons residing in a nation who are not citizens

classical liberalism grew out of the 18th century Enlightenment philosophers such as Voltaire, John Lock, Rousseau

political philosophy asserting the worth and dignity of the individual and emphasizing the rational ability of human beings to determine their own destinies. The only restrictions on the individual is not to interfere with the liberties of others.

immigration policy

regulating the entry of non-citizens into the country

natural law

rules governing human behavior that are morally superior to laws made by governments. Argued by John Locke that every person is guaranteed "certain inalienable Rights," among them "Life, Liberty, and Property," and that human beings form a social contract with one another to establish a government to help protect their rights. The liberal notion of freedom is the belief that governmental activity and restrictions on the individual should be kept to a minimum.

voter qualifications

the Constitution left the issue of this to the states to decide on their own, all states imposed either property or taxpayer qualifications for voting

motivation for change

the existence of the gap between values and behavior in America is what brings the American people to want change

tyranny of the majority

the potential for the majority to trample the rights of minorities and individuals

subcultures

variations on the prevailing values and beliefs in a society. They arise from such diverse bases as religion, racial or ethnic identity, or political group membership

political culture

widely shared views about who should govern, for what ends, and by what means

values

shared ideas about what is good and desirable. Values provide standards for judging what is right or wrong.

beliefs

shared ideas about what is true. Values and beliefs are often related. For example if we believe that human beings are endowed by GOD with rights to life, liberty and property then we will value the protection of these rights. Thus, beliefs can justify values.