Political Participation

Chapter 8Chapter 8
PoliticalPolitical
ParticipationParticipation

Copyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage
 WHO GOVERNS?WHO GOVERNS?
1.1. Who votes, who doesn’t?Who votes, who doesn’t?
2.2. Why do some people participate inWhy do some people participate in
politics at higher rates than others?politics at higher rates than others?
 TO WHAT ENDS?TO WHAT ENDS?
1.1. How did the Framers of theHow did the Framers of the
Constitution think average citizensConstitution think average citizens
should participate in America’sshould participate in America’s
representative democracy?representative democracy?
2.2. Should today’s college-age citizensShould today’s college-age citizens
participate more in politics?participate more in politics?

A Closer Look at NonvotingA Closer Look at Nonvoting
 Voting-age populationVoting-age population – citizens who– citizens who
are eligible to vote after reaching theare eligible to vote after reaching the
minimum age requirement.minimum age requirement.
 Registered votersRegistered voters – people who are– people who are
registered to vote.registered to vote.
 Source of low voter turnoutSource of low voter turnout – a– a
relatively low percentage of therelatively low percentage of the
voting-age population is registered tovoting-age population is registered to
vote.vote.

Figure 8.1 Voting and RegistrationFigure 8.1 Voting and Registration
Source: U.S.Source: U.S.
Bureau of theBureau of the
Census, CurrentCensus, Current
Population Survey,Population Survey,
““Voting andVoting and
Registration,” JuneRegistration,” June
2008, Figure 6.2008, Figure 6.

After ReconstructionAfter Reconstruction
ended in 1876, blackended in 1876, black
voting shrank undervoting shrank under
the attacks of whitethe attacks of white
supremacists. p. 179supremacists. p. 179
Department of Social History/Smithsonian
Institution

After the Civil Rights Act of 1964After the Civil Rights Act of 1964
was passed, blacks and whiteswas passed, blacks and whites
voted together in a small Alabamavoted together in a small Alabama
town. p. 179town. p. 179
The campaign to win the vote forThe campaign to win the vote for
women nationwide succeeded withwomen nationwide succeeded with
the adoption of the Nineteenththe adoption of the Nineteenth
Amendment in 1920. p. 180Amendment in 1920. p. 180
Flip Schulke/CORBIS
Library of Congress

Source: Adapted from U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, June 2008, Table 400.Source: Adapted from U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, June 2008, Table 400.

Source: Updated from Michael P.Source: Updated from Michael P.
McDonald and Samuel L. Popkin,McDonald and Samuel L. Popkin,
“The Myth of the Vanishing“The Myth of the Vanishing
Voter,”Voter,” American PoliticalAmerican Political
Science ReviewScience Review 95 (December95 (December
2001):2001):
table 1, 966. Reprinted withtable 1, 966. Reprinted with
permission of Cambridgepermission of Cambridge
University Press; Michael P.University Press; Michael P.
McDonald, “2008 GeneralMcDonald, “2008 General
Election Turnout Rates,” updatedElection Turnout Rates,” updated
April 26, 2009, atApril 26, 2009, at
http://elections.gmu.edu,http://elections.gmu.edu,
accessed May 8, 2009.accessed May 8, 2009.

The Rise of the AmericanThe Rise of the American
ElectorateElectorate
 From State toFrom State to
Federal ControlFederal Control
• Literacy testLiteracy test
• Poll taxPoll tax
• Grandfather clauseGrandfather clause
• White primaryWhite primary
 Voter TurnoutVoter Turnout
After the Civil Rights Act of 1964
was passed, blacks and whites
voted together in a small Alabama
town, p. 179
Flip Schulke/CORBIS

Figure 8.2 Voter Participation inFigure 8.2 Voter Participation in
Presidential Elections, 1860-2008Presidential Elections, 1860-2008
Note: Several southern states did not participate in the 1864 and 1868 elections.
Sources: For 1860–1928: Bureau of the Census, Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial
Times to 1970, part 2, 1071; 1932–1944: Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1992, 517; 1948–
2000: Michael P. McDonald and Samuel L. Popkin, “The Myth of the Vanishing Voter,” American Political
Science Review 95 (December 2001): table 1, 966; 2004 and 2008 elections, American National
Election Studies (ANES).

Who Participates in Politics?Who Participates in Politics?
 Forms of ParticipationForms of Participation
• InactiveInactive
• Voting specialistsVoting specialists
• CampaignersCampaigners
• CommunalistsCommunalists
• Parochial participantsParochial participants
• ActivistsActivists
 Participation: Causes and MeaningParticipation: Causes and Meaning

Young womenYoung women
volunteers workvolunteers work
rebuilding an area inrebuilding an area in
Katrina-damagedKatrina-damaged
New Orleans, p. 184New Orleans, p. 184
Antiwar activist CindyAntiwar activist Cindy
Sheehan leads a protestSheehan leads a protest
against the war inagainst the war in
Iraq near the Pentagon, p.Iraq near the Pentagon, p.
184184
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Kayte Deioma/PhotoEdit

Figure 8.3 Voter Turnout inFigure 8.3 Voter Turnout in
Presidential ElectionsPresidential Elections
Source:
Adapted from
U.S. Bureau
of the Census,
Current
Population
Reports, June
2008, Table
400.

Source: Professor Martin Wattenberg, University of California-Irvine, using data from the Comparative Study ofSource: Professor Martin Wattenberg, University of California-Irvine, using data from the Comparative Study of
Electoral Systems.Electoral Systems.

In San Francisco, votingIn San Francisco, voting
instructions are printed ininstructions are printed in
English, Spanish, and Chinese,English, Spanish, and Chinese,
p. 187p. 187
Daniel Brody

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
M E M O R A N D U MM E M O R A N D U M
To:To: Senator Henry GilbertSenator Henry Gilbert
From:From: Peter Clark, legislative analystPeter Clark, legislative analyst
Subject:Subject: Voting reform legislationVoting reform legislation
In the 1990s, barely half of the electorate voted for president,In the 1990s, barely half of the electorate voted for president,
and only a third or so cast ballots for congressionaland only a third or so cast ballots for congressional
elections. In a few recent presidential primaries andelections. In a few recent presidential primaries and
statewide special elections, turnout has run 10 percent orstatewide special elections, turnout has run 10 percent or
below. Studies show that often citizens miss thebelow. Studies show that often citizens miss the
opportunity to vote because of complications with work oropportunity to vote because of complications with work or
child care. To address this problem, legislators from bothchild care. To address this problem, legislators from both
parties support celebrating Veterans Day on Election Day,parties support celebrating Veterans Day on Election Day,
which would create a national holiday for voting. Eligiblewhich would create a national holiday for voting. Eligible
voters who do not go to the polls would be fined.voters who do not go to the polls would be fined.Copyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage

Arguments for:Arguments for:
1. This proposal honors veterans by recognizing their service1. This proposal honors veterans by recognizing their service
with the fundamental requirement of representativewith the fundamental requirement of representative
democracy, rule by the people through voting.democracy, rule by the people through voting.
2. A voting holiday ensures that people who cannot take off2. A voting holiday ensures that people who cannot take off
time from work or other responsibilities to vote have thetime from work or other responsibilities to vote have the
opportunity to exercise their democratic right.opportunity to exercise their democratic right.
3. Imposing a fine for nonvoting sends a moral message that3. Imposing a fine for nonvoting sends a moral message that
voting is a civic duty in a democracy. More citizens will feelvoting is a civic duty in a democracy. More citizens will feel
morally obliged to vote if all citizens are legally obliged tomorally obliged to vote if all citizens are legally obliged to
do so.do so.

Arguments against:Arguments against:
1. Just as veterans volunteer their service, so, too, should1. Just as veterans volunteer their service, so, too, should
citizens volunteer to exercise their democraticcitizens volunteer to exercise their democratic
responsibilities.responsibilities.
2. Voting is a right, but citizens have a civic duty to exercise2. Voting is a right, but citizens have a civic duty to exercise
that right, and the government should not, in effect,that right, and the government should not, in effect,
exercise that duty on their behalf. Moreover, people canexercise that duty on their behalf. Moreover, people can
vote by absentee ballot at their convenience.vote by absentee ballot at their convenience.
3. Compulsory voting does not guarantee informed voting. It3. Compulsory voting does not guarantee informed voting. It
is both unwise and undemocratic to legally oblige people tois both unwise and undemocratic to legally oblige people to
vote.vote.

Your decision:Your decision:
Vote for bill?Vote for bill?
Vote against bill?Vote against bill?

Political Participation

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