Chapter 4Participation in State Politics**4 points added to test for attendance, scores posted will be raw scores, wont be posted before MondayPolitical ParticipationPolitical participation is the essence and definition of democracyPolitical participation includes voting, running for office, participation in marches or demonstration, giving money or time to efforts, attending rallies or events, writing letters/emails, wearing button, discussing issues & belonging to an organizationConventional – voting, helping campaigns, signing petitions, running for officeUnconventional – protests, marching and demonstrations, war/conflict (civil disobedience)Sustained political participation refers to consistent voting in presidential and nonpresidential electionsFor democracy to work there has to be some sustained votingYou cant have democracy where a group votes every once in a while because there would be no means of predictionProtest as Political ParticipationNot nearly as common as people think but IS more common than beforeThought this because of media coverageProtests really aren’t spontaneousHave to be covered to get the message outProtest: direct, collective activity to obtain concessionsCivil disobedience: Break “unjust” laws and accept the punishmentSilent protests: the lunch counterViolence: criminal, generally irrational and self-defeatingDoesn’t really help, people need to get behind protests for them to be effectiveNews media: their response often key to successThe effectiveness of protests: highest when goal is clearOfficial responses to protests: may be genuine, symbolic, or tokenState & local governments bear costs of protests: busted budgetsFor protest to be successful: Remain nonviolent, have a clear goal, and media has to cover itPolitical Participation30-55% of the population votes; in midterms TX lowest = 26%, TX usually is around 30-35% for normal – presidential = 40-45% (TX is always on the low side of the scale)Difference between voting in US and other countries – civic cultureVoter turnout is declining across the globeMonday March 21, 2016Chapter 5 – Parties and Campaigns in the StatesParty: Organization that seeks to achieve power by winning public office in electionsKey diff: polit partys can test elections run candidates & IG’s cantIG’s function through lobbying from outsidePP’s function by influencing from the insideResponsible-Party Model: a party system in which each party offers clear policy alternatives & holds elected officials responsible for enacting policies2 directed partiesDevelop and clarify alternative policy positions for votersWhat’s in their platform actually does thisEducate people about issues and simplify choicesRecruit candidates for office who agree with the party positionsParty recruits candidates – not usOrganize and direct their candidates to win electionsHold their elected officials responsible for enacting the parties’ policy positions after they were electedWhy the resp-party model failsCampaign parties have no punishment mechanism on their candidates for when they don’t act like the party they were elected underLabor votes against conservative – much more cohesiveOrganize legislatures to ensure party control of policymakingDownsian TheoryCentral voter theorem – 2 groups of opinion (D/R) but most are in the middleSO if you want to win you have to get the most votes possible in the middle of the spectrum.Winning elections is greater than your ideologyProblems with the model:Parties generally do not offer voters clear policy alternativesVoter decisions are not motivated primarily by policy considerationsAmerican political parties have no way to bind their elected officials to party positions or even to their campaign pledgesCandidate-Centered Model: Individual Candidates rather than parties raise funds, create personal organizations, and rely on professional consultants to direct campaignsPOLS 207-504 [Exam 2 Notes] 03/04/2016Chapter 4 Participation in State Politics **4 points added to test for attendance, scores posted will be raw scores, wont be posted before Monday Political Participation -Political participation is the essence and definition of democracy -Political participation includes voting, running for office, participation in marches or demonstration, giving money or time to efforts, attending rallies or events, writing letters/emails, wearing button, discussing issues & belonging to an organization oConventional – voting, helping campaigns, signing petitions, running for officeoUnconventional – protests, marching and demonstrations, war/conflict (civil disobedience)-Sustained political participation refers to consistent voting in presidential and nonpresidential elections oFor democracy to work there has to be some sustained voting oYou cant have democracy where a group votes every once in awhile because there would be no means of predictionProtest as Political Participation-Not nearly as common as people think but IS more common than beforeoThought this because of media coverageoProtests really aren’t spontaneous Have to be covered to get the message out-Protest: direct, collective activity to obtain concessions -Civil disobedience: Break “unjust” laws and accept the punishment oSilent protests: the lunch counter -Violence: criminal, generally irrational and self-defeating oDoesn’t really help, people need to get behind protests for them to be effective -News media: their response often key to success-The effectiveness of protests: highest when goal is clear-Official responses to protests: may be genuine, symbolic, or token -State & local governments bear costs of protests: busted budgets For protest to be successful: Remain nonviolent, have a clear goal, and media has to cover it Political Participation -30-55% of the population votes; in midterms TX lowest = 26%, TX usually is around 30-35% for normal – presidential = 40-45% (TX is always on the low side of the scale)-Difference between voting in US and other countries – civic culture -Voter turnout is declining across the globe Monday March 21, 2016 Chapter 5 – Parties and Campaigns in the States Party: Organization that seeks to achieve power by winning public office in elections -Key diff: polit partys can test elections run candidates & IG’s cant-IG’s function through lobbying from outside-PP’s function by influencing from the