U.S. Political Participation and Voter Demographics

Vocabulary flashcards covering modes of political participation, historical expansion of the electorate, demographic trends, participation typologies, and institutional barriers to voting.

Seven Ways to Participate

1. voting,

2. military participation,

3. running for office,

4. campaigning or donating,

5. protesting/marching/sit-ins,

6. contacting an elected official,

7. being involved in a community project.

Political efficacy

Belief that your action matters

Voting Qualifications

1. being a U.S. citizen,

2. at least $18$ years old,

3. not a felon ('no felons'),

4. a $14$-year resident,

5. registered.

Electorate at the Nation's Beginning ($1789\text{--}1828$)

The initial stage of the American electorate where only about $15\%$ could vote, restricted to white males who owned property and were over $21$ years of age.

Jacksonian Democracy ($1828\text{--}1836$)

The historical era under Andrew Jackson that successfully eliminated property-ownership requirements to vote, advancing suffrage for the common man.

Thirteenth Amendment ($1865$)

The Constitutional amendment passed in $1865$ that abolished slavery in the United States.

Fourteenth Amendment

The Constitutional amendment that granted citizenship to former enslaved individuals.

Fifteenth Amendment

The Constitutional amendment that granted voting rights to all male citizens regardless of race.

Nineteenth Amendment ($1920$)

The Constitutional amendment passed post-WWI that granted women's suffrage (the right to vote).

Twenty-Sixth Amendment ($1971$)

The Constitutional amendment that lowered the legal voting age to $18$ years old.

Jim Crow Voting Restrictions

Disenfranchisement tools—primarily poll taxes and literacy tests—used to prevent African Americans from voting following the Civil War until defeated during the Civil Rights movement of the $1960\text{s}$.

Political Socialization

The process through which individuals acquire their political opinions, shaped predominantly by parents, religion, peers, education, and the media.

Participation by Education

more educated participate more in politics,

less educated participate less.

Participation by Age

older is more participation

Younger is less participation

Participation by Wealth and Income

wealthier individuals participate more and lean conservative,

poorer individuals participate less and lean liberal.

Participation by Sex and Gender

women participate slightly more than men and lean more to the political left,

while men lean more conservative.

Participation by Geography

Regional trends showing that the South participates less and is more conservative, the West has high participation, and the North leans more liberal.

Activists

A political participation category making up $11\%$ vote,

campaign,

write letters,

display yard signs,

and run for office; typically middle-aged or younger, educated, and possessing higher income.

Inactives

A political participation group making up $22\%$

no political action;

disproportionately composed of low-income,

less educated, and minority individuals whose parents rarely discussed politics.

Voting Specialists

only show up to vote and engage in no other political activity; typically older individuals.

Campaigners

vote,

get involved in campaigns,

join interest groups

enjoy competition and conflict,

though they generally do not run for office themselves; typically educated.

Communalists

Civic participants who engage in community projects and local activities because they dislike political confrontation, but who rarely vote.

Parochial Participants

Individuals who only participate when an issue directly affects their personal lives (such as contacting officials about a pot hole)

Suffrage / Franchise

The civil right to vote in political elections.

Institutional Barriers to Voting

mandatory voter registration,

holding elections on Tuesdays,

physically drive or travel to polling locations.