Chapter 5: Participation, Elections and Campaigns

Political participation definition

any activity by citizens intended to influence government decisions, policies, or leaders

Most important for of political participation

Voting

Other forms of political participation

🏃 Active Participation:

• Campaigning (door-to-door, phone banking)

• Donating money to:

  • Candidates

  • Political parties

  • PACs (Political Action Committees)

🏛 Civic Engagement:

• Joining political parties

• Attending:

  • Town halls

  • Public hearings

  • Debates

• Participating in local organizations

🧑‍⚖ High-Level Participation:

• Running for office (very rare, <1%)

Why political participation matters

• Ensures government reflects the people

• Creates accountability

• Encourages representation of diverse interests

Protest defintion

Public expression of dissent or demand for change

Common methods of protest

• Marches

• Rallies

• Sit-ins

• Strikes

• Boycotts

Conditions for a successful protest

. Clear & Realistic Goals

• Demands must be:

  • Understandable

  • Achievable

• Unrealistic demands → ignored by government

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2. Nonviolence (CRITICAL)

• Protected under First Amendment (peaceful assembly)

• Violence:

  • Removes legal protection

  • Reduces public support

  • Leads to negative media coverage

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3. Positive Media Coverage (MOST IMPORTANT)

• Media determines whether protest gains attention

• Shapes public opinion

Unconventional participation defintion

Political actions outside traditional systems

Unconventional participation examples

• Civil disobedience (breaking laws nonviolently)

• Boycotts

• Strikes

• Riots or conflict (extreme)

Why do they matter?

• Gives voice to marginalized groups

• Gains attention quickly

• Can lead to major reforms

Core Idea of right to vote

The Constitution originally left voting rules to states → very restrictive

What were some early voting restrictions?

• Property ownership

• Race (white only)

• Gender (male only)

• Wealth/class barriers

15h amendement (1870)

• Cannot deny voting based on race

• Problem: Southern states still blocked Black voters

19th amendment (1920)

• Women gain right to vote

• Turnout initially low due to remaining barriers

24th amendemnt (1964)

Eliminates poll taxes (federal elections)

26th amendment (1971)

Voting age lowered to 18

Civil Rights Act of 1964

• Allowed federal government to fight voting discrimination

• Set stage for stronger protections

Voting Rights Act of 1965

• Banned:

  • Literacy tests

  • Discriminatory practices

• Introduced:

  • Federal oversight (preclearance)

Supreme ccourt cases

• Guinn v. United States (1915) → banned grandfather clauses

• Smith v. Allwright (1944) → ended white primaries

• Harper v. Virginia (1966) → banned poll taxes in states

• Shelby County v. Holder (2013)

  • Removed preclearance formula → weakened Voting Rights Act

Waht were some discriminatory practices?

• Literacy tests → impossible exams

• Poll taxes → payment required to vote

• Grandfather clauses → exempted whites only

• White primaries → only whites could vote in primaries

Modern voting issues

• Voter ID laws

• Gerrymandering

• Voter roll purges

• Limited polling access

Representative Democracy

• Citizens elect representatives to make decisions

Direct Democracy

• Citizens vote directly on laws

🔧 Tools:

• Initiative → propose laws

• Referendum → approve/reject laws

• Recall → remove officials

Open Primary

• Anyone votes in any party primary

Closed Primary

• Only registered party members vote

Semi-closed

• Party members limited

• Independents can choose

Blanet primary

• Vote across party lines

Jungle Primary

• All candidates together

• Top 2 advance (even same party)

Runoff ections

• Used when no one gets 50%+

• Top 2 compete again

✔ Pros:

• Ensures majority support

❌ Cons:

• Lower turnout

• Expensive

• Longer campaigns

General Elections

• Decide winners of office

• Federal elections:

  • Every 2 years (Congress)

  • Every 4 years (President)

Voter turnout defintion

Percentage of eligible voters who vote

Who votes more

1. Education (MOST IMPORTANT)

• Higher education = higher turnout

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2. Income

• Wealthier people vote more

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3. Age

• Older people vote more

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4. Race

• Historically: white voters higher turnout

• Gap is shrinking

What increases turnout?

• Competitive elections

• Easier registration

• Early voting

• Mail-in voting

• More polling places

Rational voter defintion

People vote based on cost-benefit analysis

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⚖ Costs:

• Time

• Effort

• Transportation

• Information (BIGGEST COST)

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🎯 Benefits:

• Influence election (very small chance)

• Civic duty

• Satisfaction

Paradox of Voting

➡ One vote rarely matters
➡ Yet people still vote

👉 Reasons:

• Civic duty

• Social pressure

• Personal beliefs

Political efficacy defintion

Belief that:

1. You understand politics

2. Government responds to you

Election contreversies

⚖ Core Debate:

Accessibility vs Security

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🔥 Key Issues: 🗳 Early Voting

• More access
  − Possible administrative/security concerns

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✉ Mail-In Voting

• Convenient
  − Fraud concerns (debated)

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🪪 Voter ID Laws

• Prevent fraud
  − May exclude some voters

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📝 Same-Day Registration

• Boosts turnout
  − Harder to manage