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