Political Behavior and Power in The United States

Political Behavior and Power in the United States

• Understanding Political Culture

  • Citizens in the U.S. are accustomed to democratic norms, such as:
  • Bill of Rights
  • Multi-party competition (primarily Democrats and Republicans)
  • Secret ballot elections
  • In contrast, countries like Cuba and China have one-party systems.

• Political Participation

  • Effective democracy relies on informed and active citizens.
  • Apathy in the U.S.:
  • Despite familiarity with political processes, many citizens lack engagement.
  • Voter Statistics:
    • 50% lean Democratic; 40% lean Republican (2021).
    • Increasing polarization among party identifiers.
    • Rise in individuals who do not fully identify with either major party.
  • Decline in voter turnout over the decades:
  • Example: 1896 election had nearly 80% turnout; 2020 increased to about 67%.
  • Issues of Underrepresentation:
  • Low turnout among racial and ethnic minorities and young people.
  • Voter registration and participation barriers.

• Political Polarization

  • Political polarization refers to the growing divide between Democratic and Republican party supporters.
  • Increased division on various social and political issues:
  • 2020 example: 59% of Democrats vs. 25% of Republicans felt online offensive content was often excused.
  • Consequences of polarization include:
  • In-group solidarity vs. complexity of issues.
  • Legislative inaction due to entrenched positions.

• Race and Gender in Politics

  • Historical disenfranchisement of marginalized groups:
  • Women gained voting rights in 1920, minorities faced barriers until the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
  • Representation:
  • Post-2020 Congress: 27% women; 23% racial/ethnic minorities.
  • Latino political voice is growing, with increased registration and turnout rates.
  • Latino political influence concentrated in swing states.
  • Both political parties are beginning to recognize the importance of the Latino vote.

• The Power Structure in the U.S.

  • Debate between power elite vs. pluralist models:
  • Power Elite Model:
    • Karl Marx and C. Wright Mills argue that a small elite group (corporate members, government officials, military leaders) controls power.
  • Community of elite interests influences government decision-making.
  • Problems with political campaign financing highlighted by Citizens United v. FEC.
  • Global elite presence alongside national elite.
  • Pluralist Model:
  • Power is shared among multiple competing groups, preventing any single group from dominating.
  • Robert Dahl's investigation in New Haven suggests community power is diffuse, but critics point out the exclusion of racial minorities from power.

• Social Media and Political Engagement

  • Social media's role in political participation is increasingly significant.
  • Online platforms serve as a landscape for political campaigning and engagement, especially among younger voters.
  • Social media facilitates quick dissemination of information but can also perpetuate misinformation and echo chamber effects.

• Critical Thinking and Discussion

  • Consider how personal upbringing affects views of civic engagement.
  • Discuss the balance of power between race and gender in U.S. politics.
  • Analyze which power structure model (elite vs. pluralist) better describes the U.S.

• Key Terms

  • Elite model
  • Pluralist model
  • Power elite