AP Gov Review, Video #7: Citizens’ Beliefs About Government And Leaders Everything You Need To Know About Citizens’ Beliefs About Government And Its Leaders To Succeed In AP Government

Political Efficacy What is it? Faith and belief in the government and belief that an individual’s actions can impact the government The higher one’s political efficacy, the more likely that person is to vote And vice-versa Many young Americans have a lack of political efficacy

Basic American Political Beliefs As a whole, Americans tend to believe in the following: Political equality Free enterprise (capitalism) Equality for opportunities Mistrust of government (Post-1960s)

Political Equality Political Equality has been a major focus in the last half of the 20th century Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965 Most Americans believe in political equality and support government protection of it Political equality has extended more to minority groups than it has women Failed Equal Rights Amendment

Free Enterprise Most Americans believe in the free enterprise system Government should protect an individual’s right to pursue economic opportunities Some argue the government has gone too far in promoting businesses Connect to elitism view

Equality For Opportunities Although most Americans favor political equality, many do NOT support economic equality Constitutional amendments provide political and social equality, but NOT economic Examples: 14th: equal protection 15th: universal male suffrage 17th: direct election of US Senators 19th: women’s suffrage 24th: outlawed poll taxes 26th: lowered voting age to 18

Mistrust Of Government Seasonal vs. structural distrust Seasonal - temporary, decline due to recession Structural - overall distrust, regardless of economy; permanent, not temporary Since the 1960s, there has been structural distrust in the US government Vietnam War, Pentagon Papers, Watergate Stagflation in the 1970s Increasing partisanship In recent years, government distrust has increased to 80+%! After September 11, the public trust in government increased, albeit temporarily

Quick Recap Political Efficacy Political equality, NOT economic equality Reasons for structural distrust of government Amendments that promote political equality

Test Tips Multiple-Choice: Belief in political equality, NOT economic equality Reasons for distrust in government Free Response:

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