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 Age Race / Ethnicity Higher education 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 1971 18 year olds 26th Amendment

Voter Eligibility Citizen Age Residence Registration

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 1900 - 24: 17.3 million 1991 - 1997: 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

S E P D R TP NC Left Center Right Ideological Spectrum S E P D R TP NC Left Center Right

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%