Political efficacy
Chapter 39 of the CLEP American Government study guide on Effortless Math covers Political efficacy: the key terms, the core ideas, and worked examples showing how this topic is tested on the exam.
CLEP American Government, Chapter 39
Political efficacy
Political efficacy helps explain participation. Internal efficacy is confidence that one can understand politics and act effectively. External efficacy is belief that government institutions are responsive to people like oneself. A skilled organizer may have high internal but low external efficacy; a trusting citizen may believe government listens but feel personally unprepared to testify.
Efficacy and participation can reinforce one another. Confidence encourages action, while successful action teaches skills and demonstrates responsiveness. Repeated exclusion can reduce external efficacy, yet anger at unresponsive institutions can sometimes stimulate protest rather than withdrawal. Cross-sectional correlation cannot establish direction. Experiments, panels, or changes in institutional access provide stronger use. External efficacy is also institution-specific: a citizen may trust a responsive mayor while believing national government is remote, so one general survey item can conceal meaningful variation.
Economic judgment mainly explains vote choice; mobilization mainly explains whether and how supporters act; efficacy concerns perceived personal competence and institutional responsiveness. They can interact: a voter angered by economic performance still may not vote without registration and contact, while mobilization can build internal efficacy. When interpreting an election, separate the economic indicator, level of evaluation, direction in time, target of blame, and participation mechanism.
Video lesson: How Voters Decide: Crash Course Government and Politics #38
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