13.1

Forms of Political Participation

Objective: Describe different forms of political participation.

Introduction

• linkage institution: channels that connect individuals with government, including elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media

• americans often associate political participation solely with voting

  • voting is just one form; citizens engage in various activities to influence gov’t

  • voting = citizens select representatives to execute their preferences

• political scientists’ studies often focus excessively on voting

  • linkage institution: linkage institution: channels that connect individuals with government, including elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media

• citizens use various means, such as calling, emailing, or using social media, to communicate with elected officials and express preferences or displeasure

• political engagement includes:

  • working on campaigns

  • donating money to candidates

  • voice opinions

  • etc.

• political participation: the different ways in which individuals take action to shape the laws and policies of a government

  • PAC (political action committee): an organization that raises money to elect and defeat candidates and may donate money directly to a candidate’s campaign, subject to limits

• individuals collaborate to pursue shared political goals, often through social movements seeking social and political change

  • social movement: the joining of individuals seeking social or political change with the goal of placing issues on the policy agenda

• americans have lower voting rates than citizens in other democracies, their rates of nonelectoral participation are comparable or higher internationally

13.2

Exercising the Right to Vote

Objective: Explain how individual choice as well as state and federal laws influence voter turnout in elections.

Expansion of Voting Rights

• suffrage (franchise): right to vote

• article I section 4 of constitution: grants states the authority to regulate their voting laws

  • after the ratification, states imposed property requirements for voting, limiting suffrage to white male landholders

  • 1788: washington was elected, only 6 percent of the population had voting rights

  • states expanded voting rights to include white men without property

    • 1856: n. carolina was the last state to eliminate the property requirement

  • 5/17 amendments since the bill of rights have expanded the franchise or the right to vote

    • 15th amend.(1870): prohibits racial discrimination in voting, particularly aimed at giving african american men the right to vote

    • voting rights act of 1965: aimed to protect the voting rights of african americans by ensuring their rights to register and vote

    • 19th amend. (1920): women gained the right to vote

    • 26th amend. (1971): lowered the voting age to 18

    • 17th amend. (1913): allowed the direct election of u.s. senators, moving away from selection by state legislatures

    • 24th amend. (1964): prohibits congress and the states from imposing poll taxes as a condition for voting in federal elections

      • poll tax: a payment required by a state or federal government before a citizen is allowed to vote

  • opportunity for political participation was expanded by these amend.

• obtaining the right to vote is the first step in democratic participation, followed by the decision to exercise that right

Factors that Shape Electoral Participation

• voting is a crucial element of representative democracy

  • serves as a mechanism to hold elected representatives accountable for their promises and actions

  • a substantial percentage of americans choose not to vote

    • ex. 2016 presidential election: only about 58 percent of eligible voters participated, ranking the u.s. low in comparison to other democratic nations

• decline in voter turnout has been a persistent trend over decades, reaching its lowest level since 1942

  • voter turnout: the number of eligible voters who participate in an election as a percentage of the total number of eligible voters

• certain factors are linked with voter turnout

  • demographic characteristics: measurable characteristics of a population, such as economic status, education, age, race or ethnicity, and gender

• socioeconomic statis & education:

  • socioeconomic status (SES): a measure of an individual’s wealth, income, occupation, and educational attainment

  • voting entails costs such as time, commitment, and intellectual engagement

  • consistent pattern in electoral participation is that individuals with higher SES levels are more likely to participate in elections

    • higher-income individuals have more resources to contribute to political campaigns

    • educated professionals are more likely to be associated with interest groups, which bring political issues to their attention

    • labor unions (jobs) also play a role in calling attention to political issues, and voter turnout among unionized workers tends to be higher than among nonunionized workers

  • educational attainment is a crucial contributor to an individual's SES and a significant determinant of voter turnout rates

    • higher levels of educational attainment are associated with higher incomes, which makes the registration process and understanding election issues more accessible

• political efficacy:

  • political efficacy: a person’s belief that he or she can make effective political change

  • education influences how individuals perceive themselves as political actors and potential voters

    • higher levels of education provide intellectual resources and skills that enhance an individual's sense of political efficacy

  • education plays a crucial role in shaping individuals' political attitudes, confidence, and engagement

• age & participation:

  • young adults in the u.s., eligible to vote, exhibit lower voting rates compared to older generations

  • age is associated with other factors such as income and education

    • older americans tend to have higher levels of income and wealth

    • challenges in registering to vote, particularly for college students or individuals who have relocated to a new state, may contribute to the lower voting rates among young adults

  • despite a 1979 supreme court ruling affirming the right of college students to vote in their states of school attendance, state voting laws and local practices can present obstacles, creating difficulties for student voters

• racial & ethnic identities:

  • voter turnout is closely correlated with racial and ethnic identity, often linked to socioeconomic status

  • recent years have seen a narrowing of turnout rate gaps between whites and african americans; hispanic american citizens tend to have lower turnout rates than those with other racial and ethnic identities

    • hispanic americans, as a group, are younger; younger americans

      • as eligible hispanic voters age and increase in number, the political landscape may undergo shifts in response to changing demographic patterns

• gender & voter turnout:

  • since 1980, women have consistently voted at slightly higher rates than men, typically by a small percentage difference

    • before 1980, voting-eligible men tended to vote at higher rates than women

  • differences in modern voting patterns between men and women remain consistent across racial and ethnic identities

    • largest percentage difference is observed between african american men and women ( over 9% in 2012 election)

  • felon disenfranchisement, which disproportionately affects african american men, may contribute to the variance in voter turnout rates between african american men and women

  • disparities in voter turnout between men and women are also associated with age

    • higher % of women aged 18-45 vote compared to men in the same age group

    • men aged 75+ vote at higher rates than women in the corresponding age category

• candidate characteristics:

13.3

Forms of Political Participation

Objective: Describe different models of voting behavior.

13.4

Forms of Political Participation

Objective: Describe the purpose and role of the Electoral College in our constitutional system.

13.5

Forms of Political Participation

Objective: Describe the rules governing political campaigns.