Political participation 2/28 heim

Definition of Political Participation

Rosenstone and Hansen - " Action directed explicitly toward

Influencing the distribution of social goods and social values.

The Kinds or Types of Interest Groups

Institutional, Membership, Social Movements

Institutional Interest Groups

a. represent other organizations

(1) Trade Associations - The Automobile Dealers

Association, General Motors lobbyists, the

American Medical Association

Membership Interest Groups

a. Labor Unions - The United Autoworkers (UAW);

Association of Unions (AFL-CIO)

b. Religious Associations - The Moral Majority; The

National Conference of Catholic Bishop

Social Movements

a. Environmental Movement Groups - The Sierra Club

b. Gun Rights - The National Rifle Association (NRA)

c. The Elderly - American Association Retired Persons

(AARP)

What Interest Groups Do

provide info, generate/raise/mobilize public support

Lobbyists

people (mostly lawyers, public relations

former legislators) paid to influence government. Information available at http://www.opensecrets.org

What Lobbyists do

(1) Testify at Congressional Hearings

(2) Present Research and Technical Information

(3) Help draft legislation

(4) Make financial contributions

(5) Contribute Work or Personnel to Electoral

Campaigns

(6) Grassroots Lobbying: Directed at the

General Public or constituents

The 1995 Lobbying Act

Lobbyists must officially report

twice annually:

(1) the names of their clients

(2) their income and expenditures

(3) the issues on which they worked

Why do People Vote?

1. Perceived Benefit

2. Perceived ability to affect outcomes

3. The cost of voting (travel, work, when voting allowed)

4. the satisfaction from voting - doing your civic duty

The Rational Voter - People vote on policy

a. calculate benefits, or

b. risk aversion

The Cognitive Voter - From Partisanship to Choice

a. People and voters develop; they inherit

a general ideological pattern, then view the

future through this pattern

b. Family socialization and background is the key

The Affective or Emotional Voter

a. emotions and elections

b. negative campaigning is based upon

c. looks and physical attraction is important

(a) John Adams on ugliness, ugly professors