 Citizen Participation & Voting Behavior in Democracy Chapter 7

Political Participation  48.8% of all eligible voters actually voted in 1996 presidential election  61.5% of all eligible voters actually voted in 2008 presidential election.  Electorate: the people who are qualified to vote  Citizen  18 years old  Registered to vote

Political Socialization  How we learn the values and norms about politics  Parents  Peers  Education

Who Participates  Education  Higher education  Age  Over 55  Race / Ethnicity  Whites (64%)  African Americans (53%)  Hispanics (44%)

Voting Rights  Original: white male property owners over 21  1852 universal manhood suffrage  1870 African American males (Amend. 15)  1920 Women - 19th Amendment  year olds 26th Amendment

Voter Eligibility  Citizen  Age  Residence  Registration

How do we learn our political attitudes and values?  Political socialization  History: African American, Hispanic, Asian American  Regional culture  Education  Religion

Demographics  Study of the characteristics of a population  Political predisposition  Reinforcing cleavages  Cross cutting cleavages

Shared Values  Liberty  Equality  Democracy  Individualism  Free enterprise  Justice & rule of law  Patriotism  Optimism  Civic duty

Demographics: Who Are We?  Race  Ethnicity  Gender  Age  Religion  Income  Census Bureau

Citizens  Constitution guarantees civil liberties to all persons living in the USA  Legal Residents  Citizens  Born in USA  Child born of US parents living abroad  adoption  Naturalization  18 years old  Literate in English / US history  Lived in USA 5 years  File petition requesting citizenship  Investigated by INS  97% aliens who seek citizenship are granted

Loss of US Citizenship  Expatriation  Punishment for a federal crime – if naturalized  Fraud during naturalization

Dual Citizenship  Birth  Marriage  Naturalization  Adoption (under 16)

History of Immigration  Largest number came : 17.3 million  : 6.9 million immigrants  Expand in peace; contract during war  Foreign born portion of population increased from 14million 1980 to 26 million in 1998

Ideology  Shared common political culture  5 ideologies  Liberalism  Classical liberalism  Conservatism  Libertarianism  Environmentalism  Socialism

Ideological Spectrum

Unity in Diversity  Melting pot  Salad bowl

Civic Life  Social clubs / civic organizations: building blocks to civil society  Expands social capital  Social capital promotes civic engagement - how we use our taxes  Role of the internet?

Civic Engagement  Electoral specialist  Civic specialist  Dual activists  Disengaged

Civic Participation Writing a press release Writing a letter Communicating with a public official Organizing a letter writing campaign Testifying Create a web site Give an interview Write and circulate a petition Create and conduct a opinion survey Join a campaign or interest group Organize a fund raiser Sponsor a ballot initiative or referendum Boycott Run for public office Start an interest group

Attentive Public  Attentive public: those who follow public affairs carefully  25% attentive public  40% part time citizens: selective participation  35% nonvoters; rarely interested  Political know nothings  Avoid political activity  Little interest in government

Voting Types  Inactives 22%  Voting specialists 21%  Campaigners 15%  Communalists (community activists) 20%  Parochial participants (contact elected officials with personal political problems) 4%  Complete Activists (all forms) 1%