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.