1. Joseph A. Losco Ralph E. Baker
AM GOV 2010
Joseph A. Losco
Ralph E. Baker

2. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
Chapter 7

3. As You Read What is the nature of political participation in America?
What are the major forms of political participation and what resources do they require?
What is the nature of voting in the United States?
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4. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION: OPPORTUNITIES, COSTS, AND BENEFITS
All political and civic activities involve trade-offs between the cost of involvement and the perceived benefits.
Rational actor theory states that choices are based on our individual assessment of costs and benefits.
Those who enjoy the benefits from an activity without paying the costs of participation are known as free riders.
Free riders are a problem in societies that do not force people to participate in the political system in order to receive its benefits.
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5. CHARACTERISTICS OF POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
Different forms of political participation provide different amounts of information.
Voting conveys very limited information
Working for a candidate, joining a political party, or contributing money to a campaign imparts more information than voting alone
Activities that impart more information may involve higher costs in terms of time or money
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6. CHARACTERISTICS OF POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
Some forms of participation provide more frequent messages.
Voting is low frequency; an individual can only vote once per election
Donations are high frequency; an individual can donate time or money more than once per campaign
The frequency and strength of a political message is strongly related to the amount of resources the sender possesses
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7. INGREDIENTS FOR INVOLVEMENT
Acts of political participation require the expenditure of resources such as time, money, or expertise.
The wealthy are more than twice as likely as those in low-income groups to participate in all forms of political activity.
Better-educated individuals are more likely to engage in electoral activities and community activities.
Religious institutions with open leadership positions often provide opportunities to learn civic skills.
Upper-income jobs provide more opportunities than low-skill jobs to develop resources that are useful for political life.
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8. INGREDIENTS FOR INVOLVEMENT
Political participation varies by ethnicity and gender.
Whites participate in greater numbers than African Americans
Hispanics have lower participation rates than either whites or African Americans
African Americans and whites with similar levels of education vote at about the same rates
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9. INGREDIENTS FOR INVOLVEMENT
Women vote at higher rates than men
Men contribute more money to political campaigns and contact political leaders more often than women
A psychological predisposition toward political involvement is called political engagement
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10. INGREDIENTS FOR INVOLVEMENT
Political mobilization is the process of encouraging citizens to become politically involved.
Direct mobilization involves contacting citizens personally to take part in political activities
In indirect mobilization, leaders use networks of friends and acquaintances to persuade others to participate
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11. INGREDIENTS FOR INVOLVEMENT
Several factors affect political mobilization.
Mobilization efforts are timed to enhance the success of the cause
Politicians target those they believe will respond positively to their message
The cost of the political action requested affects mobilization
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12. VOTING
Voter turnout increases directly with employment status and wealth, level of education, and age.
Average rates of voter turnout in the United States compare unfavorably to rates in other democracies.
Voter turnout and interest is especially low among young people.
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13. VOTING Several factors account for low voter turnout.
Difficulty of voter registration
Timing and scheduling of elections
Two-party-system depression of voting interest among lower-income groups
The great number and frequency of elections in the United States
Noncompetitive political races
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14. OTHER FORMS OF POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
Americans show greater levels of participation in more time-consuming political activities such as campaign work or contact with public officials.
The affluent are more likely to write letters, volunteer on campaigns, contact elected officials, and work on solving community problems.
Modern politicians and activists increasingly rely on financial support as a form of participation.
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15. OTHER FORMS OF POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
Some scholars worry that “checkbook democracy” depresses voter interest and shuts the less affluent out of the political process.
Average citizens are using consumer activism to make political or social statements with their buying power.
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16. THE IMPACT OF PARTICIPATION PATTERNS ON POLICY
Voting data indicate that the attitudes and preferences of voters and nonvoters are substantially similar.
Wealthier citizens are three times more likely as the disadvantaged to contact elected officials.
Political leaders are thus more likely to hear about the concerns of the wealthy such as taxes, government spending, and the budget.
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17. PARTICIPATION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TODAY
Voting rates and other forms of political participation are on the rise, but there is no guarantee that this will continue.
To increase participation we must make it less costly in terms of time and money.
There has been a reduced focus on civics and government in the high school curriculum over the last generation.
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18. Attributes of Political Activities
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19. Resources Necessary for Various Types of Political Activities
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20. Political Activity Among High and Low Income Groups
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21. Participation Rates by Race and Gender
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22. Political Inactives’ Reasons for Their Inactivity
I don’t have enough time…………………………………………………
39%
I should take care of myself and my family before I worry about the community or nation…………………………………………………
34%
The important things of my life have nothing to do with politics…
20%
I never thought of being involved………………………………………
19%
Politics is uninteresting and boring……………………………………
17%
Politics can’t help with my personal or family problems…………..
Politics is too complicated……………………………………………….
15%
As one individual, I don’t feel I can have an impact…………………
For what I would get out of it, politics is not worth what I would have to put into it…………………………………………………………..
14%
Politics is a dirty business……………………………………………….
13%
I feel burned out…………………………………………………………… 9%
It is not my place…………………………………………………………..
I don’t like the people…………………………………………………….. 7%
It is not my responsibility………………………………………………... 6%
There are no good causes anymore……………………………………
I might get into trouble…………………………………………………... 3%
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23. Who Votes?
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24. Voter Turnout in Presidential Elections, 1972–2008
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25. Presidential Turnout Rates 1948–2008
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26. Average Turnout in National Elections, Western Europe and United States Since 1945
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27. Percent Increase in Unconventional Participation in Industrialized Democracies, 1974–2000
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28. Percent Voting in Advanced Industrialized Countries with Compulsory Voting
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29. Hot or Not?
Should BUYcotting, or selectively buying products based on a company’s record of social responsibility, be considered a form of political action?
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30. Hot or Not? Should voting be made compulsory?
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31. Get Involved
Volunteer your time for a cause you support. The possibilities are endless, from food banks for the hungry to soup kitchens for the homeless to homes for the elderly. If you need help locating an organization or identifying a cause in your area, you will find help at the Points of Light Foundation’s website at
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32. Summary What is the nature of political participation in America?
Americans participate in politics in a wide variety of ways. Some activities like voting are widespread; others, like running for office, attract very few participants. Political involvement often hinges on an invitation to take part in political activities by a process of direct or indirect mobilization.
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33. Summary
What are the major forms of political participation and what resources do they require?
Voting is the most common form of political participation, requiring time and some skill but not money; organizing a political meeting requires more skill than voting; monetary contributions to campaigns requires money that is not a requirement of voting.
© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

34. Summary What is the nature of voting in the United States?
Voters differ from nonvoters in resources such as wealth, employment status, and level of education. Voter turnout is also affected by the registration requirement, the timing and scheduling of elections, the existence of the two-part system, and the number and frequency of elections.
© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.