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As used in sociol & anthrop, the conceptual characteristics of the term `culture' stress its inclusiveness, its abstractness, its patterned character, & its function as a regulative component of behavior. As a technical concept, the term 'pol'al culture' appears to date from 1956, when it was defined by G. Almond as a 'particular pattern of orientations to pol'al action.' Almond also made use of Parsonian pattern-variables in describing various cultures, though this seems to contradict his thesis re cultural dualism. S. Beer defines pol'al cultures as `values, beliefs & emotional att's' re pol'al action, a classification that appears identical with that of Parsons & Shils. An understanding of the relation of orientation to `situation' appears to be lacking in the definitions of both Almond & Beer. Beer also introduces a consensus/dissensus dichotomy as an element of pol'al culture, believing that an increase in consensus decreases the likelihood that pol'al culture will be stated explicitly. Analytical problems arise from the difficulty of determining the degree of consensus at varying levels of pol'al action. R. Macridis has advanced 3 `descriptive' categories of a pol'al system: pol'al culture, soc configuration, deliberation-decision. His definition of pol'al culture (shared goals & rules `of individual & group interaction') establishes an unsatisfactory equation between culture & goals & norms. Definitions of pol'al culture should include variant as well as dominant components. IPSA.