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Citizen Participation & Voting Behavior in Democracy

Explore citizen participation and voting behavior in democracy, covering demographics, political socialization, voting rights, shared values, and civic engagement.

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Citizen Participation & Voting Behavior in Democracy

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  1. Citizen Participation & Voting Behavior in Democracy Chapter 7

  2. Political Participation • 48.8% of all eligible voters actually voted in 1996 presidential election • 61.5% of all eligible voters actually voted in 2008 presidential election. • Electorate: the people who are qualified to vote • Citizen • 18 years old • Registered to vote

  3. Political Socialization • How we learn the values and norms about politics • Parents • Peers • Education

  4. Who Participates • Education • Higher education • Age • Over 55 • Race / Ethnicity • Whites (64%) • African Americans (53%) • Hispanics (44%)

  5. Voting Rights • Original: white male property owners over 21 • 1852 universal manhood suffrage • 1870 African American males (Amend. 15) • 1920 Women - 19th Amendment • 1971 18 year olds 26th Amendment

  6. Voter Eligibility • Citizen • Age • Residence • Registration

  7. Demographics • Study of the characteristics of a population • Political predisposition • Reinforcing cleavages • Cross cutting cleavages

  8. Shared Values • Liberty • Equality • Democracy • Individualism • Free enterprise • Justice & rule of law • Patriotism • Optimism • Civic duty

  9. Demographics: Who Are We? • Race • Ethnicity • Gender • Age • Religion • Income • Census Bureau

  10. Citizens • Constitution guarantees civil liberties to all persons living in the USA • Legal Residents • Citizens • Born in USA • Child born of US parents living abroad • adoption • Naturalization • 18 years old • Literate in English / US history • Lived in USA 5 years • File petition requesting citizenship • Investigated by INS • 97% aliens who seek citizenship are granted

  11. Loss of US Citizenship • Expatriation • Punishment for a federal crime – if naturalized • Fraud during naturalization

  12. Dual Citizenship • Birth • Marriage • Naturalization • Adoption (under 16)

  13. History of Immigration • Largest number came 1900 - 24: 17.3 million • 1991 - 1997: 6.9 million immigrants • Expand in peace; contract during war • Foreign born portion of population increased from 14million 1980 to 26 million in 1998

  14. Ideology • Shared common political culture • 5 ideologies • Liberalism • Classical liberalism • Conservatism • Libertarianism • Environmentalism • Socialism

  15. Ideological Spectrum S E P D R TP NC Left Center Right

  16. Unity in Diversity • Melting pot • Salad bowl

  17. Civic Life • Social clubs / civic organizations: building blocks to civil society • Expands social capital • Social capital promotes civic engagement - how we use our taxes • Role of the internet?

  18. Civic Engagement • Electoral specialist • Civic specialist • Dual activists • Disengaged

  19. Civic Participation

  20. Attentive Public • Attentive public: those who follow public affairs carefully • 25% attentive public • 40% part time citizens: selective participation • 35% nonvoters; rarely interested • Political know nothings • Avoid political activity • Little interest in government

  21. Voting Types • Inactives 22% • Voting specialists 21% • Campaigners 15% • Communalists (community activists) 20% • Parochial participants (contact elected officials with personal political problems) 4% • Complete Activists (all forms) 1%

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