Chapter 6Possible Forms of Public Participation- Figure 6.1 o Influence is positively related topolitical participationo Participation rates are negatively related toparticipation costs - More opportunity to shape policy as anelected official than as a votero The greatest power is in the hands ofpeople who occupy positions ofauthoritySeeking Public Office- US has more than 300,000 elected offices to be filled and refilled after two years or so- Only one of these elected offices has a national constituency: the president sharing the ticket with the VP- Only small minority ever seeks to govern – less than 1% enter elections- Running for elections can be costlyo Must fundraise for campaigns, lose privacy, objects of criticismo Candidates must see benefit beyond gratification for being civically active- Local offices filled by nonpartisan elections (i.e. city council, school board membership) attract more “average” people – leads to more normal personalities- If you feel strongly about an issue, you can seek to influence the decision directly by seeking and winning public officeo Can also support others and defeat those whose actions you oppose- Direct forms of participation: protest, rebellion, assassination and insurrectiono Protest is considered a freedom of speechAttending Public Meetings- Increase in people involved with less direct forms of participation- Elected officials often schedule public meetings to assure their reelection by impressing the public that they care about constituentsCommunication with Representatives- Less direct, common act is to write to an elected officialo 3/10 have claimed to have written- Writing to congressional representatives = most common- Congressional staff members devote considerable time to answering/tabulating letters- Voting is an aggregate action that is supposed to influence public policyThe Public Initiating and Repealing Laws – Direct Democracy- Most direct form of public involvement = allowing the public to make public policy decisions directlyo I.e. New York voting on budgets- Under initiatives and referendum procedures, advocates seek voter signatures on a petition to place a measure on the ballot- Citizen-initiated referendums seek to change or repeal existing law- Legislative referendums occur when a legislature puts a measure on the balloto Some are mandatory Non Participants Run for Office Vote for Elected Offices (Indirect Democracy) Initiative & Ref. (Direct Democracy) Protestors Attend Public Meetings Less than 1% 3-20% 20-50% in western states 10-60% depending on type of election Uncertain Apart from Presidential Elections > 60% Increased Impact on Policy- States with initiative and referendum are usually Western states- Qualified direct initiatives are automatically scheduled for popular votes- Qualified indirect initiatives require legislative approval before being scheduled for popular voteso TX = neither referendum/initiative- Both initiative and referendum processes start with collecting the signatures of enough registered voters on petitions within a prescribed time (approx. 3-10%)- Qualified referendums and direct initiatives are automatically up for popular votes- Qualified indirect initiatives require legislative approval before being scheduled for popular votes- Two ballot options: for and against- Majority votes in election passes or repeals law- Direct democracy through I/R was adopted in the 20th century- Roll off – many who vote for the top offices on the ballot fail to vote at the bottom of the ballot (the declining vote from top to bottom)- When turnout is low, those who vote are less like the general public - Nearly all states have public referendum on state constitutional amendmentso Approval/disapproval follows proposals from state legislatures- Straw polls – when state and local governments hold non-binding advisory votes- The initiative has not proven to be a viable form of direct democracy usable in large democraciesVoting for Elected Offices – Indirect Democracy- Voting in elections = indirecto They’re affecting policy indirectly by supporting candidates they agree with and defeating candidates they disagree withMaking a Choice at the Polls- Become informed and form one’s personal opinion- Gather information from the candidates- Choose rationally between the candidates- Must decide which issues are important- Active involvement in gathering information and participating- Being informed - Rationally supporting the candidate who best reflects one’s personal positions- Rational Activist Mode l of Democracy – standards for voters in a democracyCandidates Interpreting Election Outcomes- Public policy reflects public opinion in “the easy choice”- Example #4 (page 135), neither candidate took a position on an issue important to you and therefore has no knowledge of what the public prefers cannot except to enact public opinion into public policyUnanticipated Issues- If something about the candidate allows predictions as to how that candidate will vote on unanticipated issues and the voter knows it, the choice can be made- Past votes may predict representative’s votes on figure unanticipated issues- Or they’ll vote consistently with the voter’s personal positions- Example #5Turnout in Various Elections- American presidents usually receive more votes than any of their opponents and also a majority of the popular voteo Neither is necessary to win the election- Number of voters in 2008 presidential election was the largest in history- When the president is not on the ballot, turnout is typically 15-20% points lower- Governors in most states head the ballot in off years - The lowest turnout happens at the level of government acclaimed as “closest to the people”Trends in Turnout (Figure 6.4)- Turnout in presidential years has increased steadily starting in 2000- Off-year elections always have lower turnout but fail to show any smooth trends- Decline in 1972 potentially caused by two factors:o Surge in non-citizens who cannot vote which divides the vote by the voting age population, diminishing actual turnout by those who could voteo Many states disenfranchise felons in prison as well as those released but still on probation Underestimation of turnoutWhy do Americans Vote Less?- Four factors account for our voting less:1. Lack of party-group linkagea. Enduring and sharp correspondence between political parties and majorsegments of societyb. US does not have the sharp
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