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Participation: Where Have All the Voters Gone?

Participation: Where Have All the Voters Gone?. Braunwarth POSC 121. Participation. How does political participation in the U.S. compare to other democracies? Very low Rage for Democracy What two factors account for almost all variance in participation?: 1. Education and 2. Income

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Participation: Where Have All the Voters Gone?

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  1. Participation: Where Have All the Voters Gone? Braunwarth POSC 121

  2. Participation • How does political participation in the U.S. compare to other democracies? • Very low • Rage for Democracy • What two factors account for almost all variance in participation?: • 1. Education and • 2. Income • In other words, Class

  3. Spiral of Participation The following work in concert: • Participation • Government Response • Sense of Political Efficacy Depending on class, this works either positively or negatively

  4. Voter Turnout and Income Level

  5. Voting and Non-Voting • Take a minute and explore, in writing, why you did or did not vote • Political facts (i.e. non-voting) do not necessarily speak for themselves • They provide different ways of constructing reality • First, let’s take a look at non-voting:

  6. Explanations: Why Don’t Participate? Democratic Assessment? Elite Popular Content Discouraged Ignorant Alienated Don’t Care No Real Choice Fortunate Unhealthy Non-Voting

  7. Elite Explanations Assuming the Elite explanation of non-voting, Why are people not voting? • They are satisfied or ignorant or apathetic How would U.S. Government and Politics be changed in non-voters were involved? • Are fortunate the ignorant don’t vote but if they did it would probably not change things very much

  8. Popular Explanations • Assuming the Popular Democratic explanation of non-voting, • Why are people not voting? • People are alienated and discouraged • How would U.S. Government and Politics be changed in non-voters were involved? • More diverse choices and perspectives that appeal to their concerns

  9. Voting Why do people vote? • Is actually quite rational and reasonable • Every vote does count • Civic Duty • Attaches you to the political system • Avenue for rule, especially as a group • Keeps politicians accountable

  10. Democracy Requires Participation • “Democracy is not something you believe in or a place to hang your hat, but it's something you do. You participate. If you stop doing it, democracy crumbles” • Abbie Hoffman

  11. Who’s Afraid of Voters? • Let’s take a little quiz: • 1. A person appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court is appointed for what term? • 2. If a person is indicted for a crime, name two rights which he has. • 3. Cases tried before a court of law or of what two types: civil and ______?

  12. Who’s Afraid of Voters? • 4. If no candidate for president receives a majority of the electoral vote, who decides who will become president? • 5. If no person receives a majority of the electoral vote, the vice-president is chosen by the Senate, true or false? • 6. If an effort to impeach the President is made, who presides at the trial?

  13. Who’s Afraid of Voters? • 7. If the two houses of Congress do not agree on adjournment, who sets the time? • 8. A president elected in November takes office the following year on what date? • 9. Of the original thirteen states, which had the largest representation in the first Congress? • 10. The Constitution limits the size of the District of Columbia to________?

  14. Who’s Afraid of Voters? • Good job • Here are the answers: • 1. Supreme Court Justices serve for life • 2. Freedom from self-incrimination, speedy trial, trial by peers, freedom from cruel and unusual punishment, counsel, no double jeopardy, due process, no excessive bail • 3. Cases are either criminal or civil

  15. Who’s Afraid of Voters? • 4. The House chooses the president if there is no electoral majority • 5. True, the Senate chooses the vice-president • 6. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides at an impeachment trial • 7. The President sets the adjournment time • 8. The President takes office on January 20 • 9. Pennsylvania had the largest delegation • 10. D. C. is limited to 10 square miles

  16. Who’s Afraid of Voters? • How did you do? • Probably not well, indicating you are illiterate • You have just taken a portion of the Alabama literacy test • How was this used? • To limit blacks from voting in Alabama • What does this say about popular mobilization and the threat to elite rule? • Participation is Power!

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