Chapter 7

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Democracy & Political Participation

Democratic ideal is “government run by the people”

Difficulty lies with definitions of how much and what kind of participation needed Direct democracy versus democracy carried out

by representatives

Elections are necessary for democracy, but do not ensure democracy

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Political Participation

All citizen activities that attempt to INFLUENCE government’s structure, selection of officials, or policies

Conventional participation

Unconventional participation4

Unconventional Participation

Can range from protest marches to

terrorist activities “Bloody Sunday” March from Selma, AL, to Montgomery,

AL in 1965

1995 bombing of Oklahoma City’s Federal Building by Timothy McVeigh

Terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001

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Unconventional Participation

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Support for Unconventional

Participation Boston Tea Party in 1773 first of many

violent protests

Most Americans not willing to participate in unconventional political activities

Sometimes difficult to define which activities fall under heading of “unconventional political participation”

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Figure 7.1

What Americans Think Is Conventional Behavior

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The Effectiveness of Unconventional

Participation

Unconventional participation is not always successful, even when violent

Direct action appeals most to persons who distrust the political system and have a strong sense of political efficacy

Participation also depends on an individual’s

group consciousness

Americans about as likely to participate as citizens of other nations 10

The Effectiveness of Unconventional

Participation

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Conventional Participation

Practical test for democracy: can citizens influence policies by acting through its institutions?

Two major categories for conventional participation:

1) Supportive behavior

2) Influencing behavior 12

Compared with What? Popular Participation in

Politics

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Supportive Behavior

Actions that express allegiance to country and government Require various levels of effort

Sometimes actions an individual sees as supportive actually suppress democracy

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Influencing Behavior Some types of behavior seek benefits;

others have broad policy objectives

Particular benefits - those that benefit self,

immediate family, or friends

Very common at local level, especially “contacting behavior;” may require little initiative

More common with those of higher socioeconomic status

Sometimes done quietly 15

Influencing Behavior continued…

Campaign contributions also on this list

Broad Policy Objectives – activities that influence selection of government officials and policies

Also require different levels of initiative

Voting, running for office, holding meetings, working on campaigns, attending hearings, or using the court system

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The Twitter Revolution

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Influencing Behavior Citizens who want to participate

can do so via the Internet

Comment on proposed rules and regulations at the Federal Register site: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/

Track economic stimulus funds at: http://www.recovery.gov/Pages/home.aspx

View congressional voting records: http://www.govtrack.us/ or http://www.thomas.gov/

Many other political sites available for wide range of interests

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Influencing Behavior

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Conventional Participation in America

Usually only those with a stake in the outcome take initiative to participate in Congressional or administrative hearings

Most common form of political behavior is voting Rate of voting is voter turnout

U.S. voter turnout low compared to other industrialized democracies

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Participating Through Voting

Electoral process heart of democratic government

Rules for suffrage, or franchise, and rules for counting ballots and electoral systems define process Who can vote How much each vote counts How many votes needed to win

No nation has universal suffrage21

Expansion of Suffrage

U.S. first to hold mass elections, but suffrage limited by states

Initially only landowners or taxpayers

By 1850s, all working-class males

Suffrage for blacks and women took longer

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The Enfranchisement of Blacks

Even with passage of Fifteenth Amendment after Civil War, some states resisted

Poll taxes, literacy tests, “white primary,” and violence all deterrents

Supreme Court rulings supporting black suffrage began with Smith v. Allwright (1944); later Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections (1966)

Voting Rights Act of 196523

Figure 7.2

Voter Registration in the South, 1960, 1980, and 2000

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The Enfranchisement of Women

Women could not vote anywhere in world until 1869

First to grant women vote in U.S.: Wyoming Territory in 1869

Equal Rights Party formed in 1884

Women gained national right to vote in 1920 with Nineteenth Amendment

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The Fight for Women’s Suffrage…and Against It

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Evaluating the Expansion of Suffrage in America

Last major expansion was

26th Amendment in 1971 * Lowered voting age to 18

Though process towards generally universal suffrage slow, U.S. still ahead of many other countries, including other democracies

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Voting on Policies

Political power comes with suffrage

Progressivism flourished from 1900 to 1925; proposed several electoral changes: Direct primary Recall Referendum Initiative

Not clear if these opportunities improve policies made by elected representatives

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Figure 7.3

Westward Ho!

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Voting for Candidates Serves democratic government two ways:

Voters can choose candidate they think will best represent their interests

Voting allows citizens to re-elect candidates or vote them out of office

U.S. government has few elected officials compared to state and local governments

U.S. has more frequent and varied elections than any other country in the world – but lower voter turnout than many

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The Growth of Electoral Democracy

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Explaining Political Participation

Political participation can be: Conventional or unconventional Require little or require much initiative Serve to support government or influence

its decisions

People who participate in one way may not participate in others

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Patterns of Political Participation Over Time

Generally, Americans’ participation is stable over time

Socioeconomic status a good indicator of most types of participation Income Education (most important) Occupation Age, race, and gender also important

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Figure 7.4

Effects of Education on Political Participation

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Low Voter Turnout in America

Difficult to explain decline in voter turnout in America 26th Amendment (younger voters tend

not to vote) Belief that government no longer

responsive to citizens Change in attitude about political

parties

Register to vote at Rock the Vote: http://www.rockthevote.com/

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Figure 7.5

The Decline of Voter Turnout: An Unsolved Puzzle

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U.S. Turnout Versus Turnout in Other

Countries Differences in voting laws and administrative

machinery affect voter turnout in the U.S.

Tuesday Election Day not a public holiday

Burdensome registration procedures Political parties not tied to certain groups Most elections not particularly competitive

Large number of elections and candidates means difficult for voters to educate selves

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Participation and Freedom, Equality, & Order

Participation and freedom key in normative theory

Citizens free to participate when and how they want (or not)

Citizens free to use personal resources to pursue any legal means to influence government decisions

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Participation and Freedom, Equality, and Order

Participation and equality requires that each citizen’s ability to influence government be equal to every other citizen

Differences in resources should not matter

Elections serve ideal of equality best Groups can band together to increase

influence39

Participation and Freedom, Equality, & Order

Relationship between participation & order iscomplicated

Some types of participation promote order; others, disorder

Political system more threatened by unconventional participation

26th Amendment effort to bring order to Vietnam War protests

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Participation & Models of Democracy

Elections implement democracy by allowing citizens to choose among candidates and issues

Elections socialize political activity

Elections institutionalize access to political power

Elections bolster the state’s power and authority

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