Political Participation

Chapter 8Chapter 8Political Political

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 in Why 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 the How did the Framers of the

Constitution think average citizens Constitution think average citizens should participate in America’s should participate in America’s representative democracy?representative democracy?

2.2. Should today’s college-age citizens Should today’s college-age citizens participate more in politics?participate more in politics?

A Closer Look at NonvotingA Closer Look at Nonvoting Voting-age population Voting-age population – citizens who – citizens who

are eligible to vote after reaching the are eligible to vote after reaching the minimum age requirement.minimum age requirement.

Registered voters Registered voters – people who are – people who are registered to vote.registered to vote.

Source of low voter turnout Source of low voter turnout – a – a relatively low percentage of the relatively low percentage of the voting-age population is registered to voting-age population is registered to vote.vote.


Figure 8.1 Voting and RegistrationFigure 8.1 Voting and Registration


Source: U.S. Bureau Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, of the Census, Current Population Current Population Survey,Survey,““Voting and Voting and Registration,” June Registration,” June 2008, Figure 6.2008, Figure 6.

After Reconstruction After Reconstruction ended in 1876, black ended in 1876, black voting shrank undervoting shrank underthe attacks of white the 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 1964was passed, blacks and whiteswas passed, blacks and whitesvoted together in a small Alabamavoted together in a small Alabamatown. p. 179town. p. 179


The campaign to win the vote forThe campaign to win the vote forwomen nationwide succeeded with women nationwide succeeded with the adoption of the Nineteenth the 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 Political American Political Science Review Science Review 95 (December 95 (December 2001):2001):table 1, 966. Reprinted with table 1, 966. Reprinted with permission of Cambridge permission of Cambridge University Press; Michael P. University Press; Michael P. McDonald, “2008 General McDonald, “2008 General Election Turnout Rates,” updated Election Turnout Rates,” updated April 26, 2009, atApril 26, 2009, athttp://elections.gmu.edu, http://elections.gmu.edu, accessed May 8, 2009.accessed May 8, 2009.

The Rise of the American The Rise of the American ElectorateElectorate

From State to From 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 in Figure 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 women Young women volunteers workvolunteers workrebuilding an area in rebuilding an area in Katrina-damagedKatrina-damagedNew Orleans, p. 184New Orleans, p. 184

Antiwar activist Cindy Antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan leads a protest Sheehan leads a protest against the war inagainst the war inIraq near the Pentagon, p. Iraq near the Pentagon, p. 184184

Alex Wong/Getty Images

Kayte Deioma/PhotoEdit

Figure 8.3 Voter Turnout in Figure 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 of Source: Professor Martin Wattenberg, University of California-Irvine, using data from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems.Electoral Systems.


In San Francisco, voting In San Francisco, voting instructions are printed in instructions 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, and In the 1990s, barely half of the electorate voted for president, and only a third or so cast ballots for congressional elections. In a only a third or so cast ballots for congressional elections. In a few recent presidential primaries and statewide special few recent presidential primaries and statewide special elections, turnout has run 10 percent or below. Studies show elections, turnout has run 10 percent or below. Studies show that often citizens miss the opportunity to vote because of that often citizens miss the opportunity to vote because of complications with work or child care. To address this problem, complications with work or child care. To address this problem, legislators from both parties support celebrating Veterans Day legislators from both parties support celebrating Veterans Day on Election Day, which would create a national holiday for on Election Day, which would create a national holiday for voting. Eligible voters who do not go to the polls would be fined.voting. Eligible voters who do not go to the polls would be fined.


Arguments for:Arguments for:

1. This proposal honors veterans by recognizing their service 1. This proposal honors veterans by recognizing their service with the fundamental requirement of representative with 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 off 2. A voting holiday ensures that people who cannot take off time from work or other responsibilities to vote have the time 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 that 3. Imposing a fine for nonvoting sends a moral message that voting is a civic duty in a democracy. More citizens will feel voting is a civic duty in a democracy. More citizens will feel morally obliged to vote if all citizens are legally obliged to morally obliged to vote if all citizens are legally obliged to do so.do so.


WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments against:Arguments against:

1. Just as veterans volunteer their service, so, too, should 1. Just as veterans volunteer their service, so, too, should citizens volunteer to exercise their democratic citizens volunteer to exercise their democratic responsibilities.responsibilities.

2. Voting is a right, but citizens have a civic duty to exercise 2. 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 can exercise 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. It is 3. Compulsory voting does not guarantee informed voting. It is both unwise and undemocratic to legally oblige people to 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

Education

Transcript of Political Participation