POSI: Political Participation, Activating the Political Will

Chapter 7: Political Participation, Activating the Political Will

Goals for Today

• Announcement of grades for Exam Two:

  • Expected to be posted by Thursday at the earliest, and Friday at the latest.

• Focus of today's class:

  • Examination of political participation defined as involvement in activities intended to influence public policy and leadership.

  • Activities that constitute political participation include:

  • Voting

  • Joining political groups

  • Writing to elected officials

  • Demonstrating for political causes

  • Contributing financially to political candidates

Takeaways on Political Participation

• Voter turnout in U.S. elections is comparatively low relative to other Western democracies.

• Contributing factors to low voter turnout in the U.S.:

  • U.S. election laws, especially regarding registration requirements and election scheduling.

  • Prevalence of inactivity among citizens aside from voting.

  • Minority classification of Americans as political activists.

• Contrary to low political enthusiast participation, Americans exhibit higher tendencies to contribute time and money to:

  • Political organizations

  • Community organizations

• Political movements provide a channel for citizens to express opposition to government policy through:

  • Protest rallies

  • Marches

• Historical impact of political movements:

  • Most movements do not succeed, but notable exceptions like the Black civil rights movement have had lasting political effects.

• Distinction in American views:

  • A notable separation between personal and public life reduces incentives for political participation.

  • Participation patterns tend to benefit citizens with higher income and education levels.

Voter Participation

• Voting as a foundational element of political participation.

• Suffrage: Defined as the right to vote.

• Historical context:

  • Control of voting initially resided with individual states.

  • Early voter qualifications were often tied to property ownership, typically land.

  • By the 1830s, most states had eliminated property qualifications for voting.

• Post-Civil War developments:

  • African Americans were nominally granted the right to vote but subjected to:

  • Literacy tests designed to disenfranchise.

  • Such tests were eventually abolished in the 1960s.

Voting Participation: Women and Young Adults

• Nineteenth Amendment (1920): Granted women the right to vote.

• Twenty-Sixth Amendment:

  • Established voting rights for 18-year-olds.

  • Motivated by the premise: "if you are old enough to fight, you’re old enough to vote," particularly in relation to the Vietnam War.

Factors in Voter Turnout: U.S. in Comparative Perspective

• Despite beliefs about civic duty to vote, the U.S. has among the lowest voter turnout globally, with notably lower participation in midterm elections.

• Comparative analysis:

  • Examination of voting turnout in other countries reveals higher rates of participation.

• Key issues contributing to lower turnout:

  • Voter registration hurdles and voting requirements contribute significantly.

Registration and Voting Requirements

• Registration: Process of adding a citizen’s name to an official voter list before voting eligibility is conferred.

• International perspective on registration:

  • In many countries, registration is government-initiated (e.g., post offices notify registration officials when residents move).

• U.S. cultural factors:

  • Individualism emphasizes personal responsibility for registration rather than state responsibility.

• Variability in state registration practices:

  • Example: 19 states allow registration on Election Day.

Restrictive Voting Registration

• States imposing restrictive registration laws often see turnout rates below national averages:

  • Examples include Indiana, Georgia, and Wisconsin.

• Notable legal precedent:

  • Indiana's 2005 law, passed by a Republican-controlled legislature, was purportedly aimed at preventing voter fraud but showed signs of partisan motivation.

• Disproportionate impact on demographics:

  • Younger citizens, minorities, and low-income individuals, who generally favor the Democratic Party, often lack necessary identification (e.g., driver's license) for registration.

• Supreme Court case (2008):

  • The ruling supported these laws, framing them as serving a “valid interest” in deterring fraud, despite acknowledged partisan motivations.

Frequency of Elections

• Unique U.S. election schedule:

  • Frequency, including two-year cycles for the House of Representatives, results in increased voter fatigue compared to other democracies.

• Historical coordination of elections:

  • In earlier periods, most statewide elections coincided with presidential elections, benefiting dominant parties through high turnout.

• Changes initiated in the 1930s:

  • Gubernatorial elections began being held in nonpresidential years to limit “presidential coattails” effects, with a majority of states adopting this practice.

Influencers of Voting Behavior: Education, Income, and Age

• Disparities in voting patterns related to education and income:

  • Better-educated and higher-income individuals show higher voting rates.

  • Contrast with European countries where these differences have lesser impact.

• Age demographics in voting:

  • Older citizens exhibit higher voting participation than younger citizens, who face mobility issues impacting registration stability.

Civic Attitudes and Political Interest

• Civic duty perception influences voting behavior:

  • Families that emphasize voting are likely to foster this view in future generations.

• Political interest correlation with voting:

  • Party affluence (registered party members vs. independents) increases voting likelihood.

• Apathy and alienation:

  • Personal feelings of powerlessness contribute to decreased engagement in voting processes.

Campaign and Lobbying Activities

• Alternative methods of political participation include:

  • Engaging in campaign activities or joining lobbying groups.

• Participation rates in the U.S. compared to Europe:

  • Despite low overall engagement, individuals in the U.S. participate in campaigns and lobbying more frequently due to the extended election cycle.

• Example organizations:

  • Involvement in groups like Greenpeace or the NRA is common as a means to influence political outcomes.

Virtual Participation

• Introduction of the Internet as a venue for political engagement:

  • Expanded methods for involvement via social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).

• Internet's influence on participation:

  • Digital participation spikes during presidential campaigns, surpassing traditional methods.

  • Online fundraising has become a critical component, with examples from the 2020 presidential race:

  • Donald Trump and Joe Biden raised millions through small online donations.

• Successful online advocacy organizations:

  • Examples include MoveOn.org and Americans for Prosperity, both reporting millions of members across states.

  • Noteworthy financial contributions made towards candidates in elections.

Community Activities

• Engagement in community activities as a political form of participation:

  • Participation levels in the U.S. exceed those seen in Europe.

• Concept of Social Capital:

  • Defined by Robert Putnam as the totality of face-to-face interactions among citizens.

• Cultural influences:

  • Resistance to community engagement is often hampered by individualist values, yet many still partake in community service.

  • Religious involvement correlates with community service levels, contrasting European governance models.

Unconventional Activism: Political Movements and Protests

• Historical context of protests and the evolution in expression:

  • Democracy allows for non-violent expressions of dissent compared to past riots.

• Emergence of political movements when voting does not effectively convey dissatisfaction:

  • As bifurcation in party ideologies grows, various protest movements arise.

Recent Protest Movements

• Tea Party Movement:

  • Emerged in response to perceived excessive taxation by the government.

• Occupy Wall Street (OWS):

  • Originating in 2011, started as a small encampment in New York City.

  • Spawned nationwide protests reflecting anger towards financial bailouts lacking accountability for bankers amid the 2008 financial crisis.

  • Movement focused on economic inequality, opting for the slogan "We are the 99%".

Significant Protest Movements

• Black Lives Matter (BLM):

  • Spurred by police violence against unarmed Black men, BLM aimed to reform law enforcement and local government services.

  • Utilizes public demonstrations to highlight systemic inequities.

• Me Too Movement:

  • Aimed to raise awareness of sexual assault and harassment, especially in the workplace with significant online traction through social media.

  • The movement has led to consequences for numerous powerful individuals.

Movement Against Gun Violence and MAGA

• Emergent response to tragic events (e.g., school shootings):

  • National School Walkout Day calling for stricter gun laws.

• Make America Great Again (MAGA):

  • Originated with Trump's presidential campaign, operating both internally and externally within the Republican Party, promoting traditional values perceived as under threat.

Factors Determining Success of Social Movements

• General observation:

  • Many political movements fail due to nonconformity to American cultural norms (e.g., Communist or anarchist movements) or inadequate resource sustainability.

• Successful movements:

  • Civil Rights Movement and Tea Party served as precursors to subsequent movements (e.g., MAGA).

  • Decline of movements like Occupy Wall Street due to refusal to engage with institutional mechanisms.

Public Response to Protest Activity

• Historical context of protest effectiveness in U.S.:

  • Originated from resistance against British rule; however, current public support for protests is lower in comparison to other democracies.

• Variable public reactions:

  • Earlier protests faced backlash; current perceptions of movements like BLM shift based on event-driven developments.

  • Older demographics and non-affiliated individuals tend to resist, reflecting demographic biases toward certain movements.

Participation and the Potential for Influence

• Low participation rates among Americans:

  • High emphasis on individualism hampers collective action engagement.

• Paradox of need for government assistance:

  • Lower-income groups demonstrate the least political participation despite greater needs due to systemic socio-economic barriers.

• Voter registration disparities:

  • Individuals at lower-income levels are significantly less likely to be registered to vote compared to their higher-income counterparts.

Summary

• Political participation encapsulates various activities aimed at promoting influence on public policy.

• Discussion on engagement:

  • Voter turnout is drastically low in the U.S. compared to other democracies, often hindered by prerequisites like personal registration responsibilities.

• Limited civic engagement beyond voting, with concerns reflecting a cultural belief in individualism; overall moderate involvement noted among Americans.