HOW AMERICANS PARTICIPATE IN POLITICS

Chapter 5

Political Participation

All the activities in which citizens engage to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue. “Mrs. Jones of Iowa City goes to a neighbor’s

living room to attend her local precinct’s presidential caucus.”

“Demonstrators against abortion protest as the Supreme Court on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.”

“More than 100 million people vote in a presidential election.”

Political Participation

Participation can be overt or subtle.

Americans value political participation. 79% proud of

democracy. However, low

turnouts in POTUS election.

Conventional & Unconventional Participation Conventional- includes many widely

accepted modes of influencing government Voting, trying to persuade others, ringing

doorbells, running for office, etc.

Unconventional- includes activities that are often dramatic Protesting, civil disobedience, and even

violence

Protest as Participation

Protest- political participation designed to achieve policy change through dramatic and unconventional tactics.-Civil Disobedience -Violence

Class, Inequality, and Participation Citizens of higher social economic status

participate more in politics.

Understanding Public Opinion & Political Action Public Attitudes Toward the Scope of

Government “Americans are still ideological conservatives but

operational liberals.” Democracy, Public Opinion, and Political Action

We choose our leaders but….. If people know little about where candidates stand

on issues, how can they make rational choices Typically choose performance criteria over policy

criteria.