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.