Chapter 8: VotingForms of Participation Voting Contacting public officials Volunteering for campaigns- Takes more time but you get more involved- One on one interaction Protest/rally Sign petitions Donate: high activity Run for office: most intensiveForms of participating Usually by organized interests- Lobbying: Done by interest groups, convince congress how to vote- Public relations: giving a good image about something (like coal)- Litigation: Usually not an individual bringing big bills, but groupsVoting Suffrage: the legal right to vote- 15th amendment: Universal male suffrage- 19th amendment: Women suffrage- 26th amendment: voting age lowered to 18Voting Trends Turnout: Percentage of eligible individuals who actually vote- Low compared to other democracies- Europeans have 70-90% voter turnout- U.S Presidential election is usually around 60% but has been lower- Mid-term elections are about 33%- State and local elections can be in the teens Trends- Race/Ethnicity African Americans have always voted less than whites, but more than any other minority Latinos have low levels of voting but that is changing- Gender (Gender Gap) Distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences and views of men and women Men tend to vote republican and women vote democrat- Age: older Americans participate more- Religion Evangelical Christians: active force, republican party You can see distinct voting patterns within groups- Socioeconomic Status (SES) Based on level of education, income, and occupational prestige Most important predictor for participation Higher vote more than lowRegistration requirements: states have this power Residency Waiting Periods: period of time to register before election Criminal History: checked Usually Depress Turnouts- Hard requirements All of these effect whether or not voters will actually vote Same day registration and voting has a lot more turn outChapter 6: Public OpinionPublic Opinion Citizen’s attitude about political issues, leaders, institutions and events. Individual opinions are formed from values and political ideology Values (or Beliefs)- Basic principles that shape a persons’ opinions about political issues and events- Hard to change Political Ideology- Cohesive set of beliefs that form a general philosophy about the role of government Attitude (or Opinion)- Specific view or preferences on a particular issue or eventFormation of Opinions Political Socialization- The way in which individuals learn their underlying political values, beliefs, and ideology (the process)- How you become republican or democrat Agents of Socialization- Social Institutions that shape belief, values, and political ideology (what causes the process of socialization)- Family Most significant and determinant of where you get your values Most people align with parents, but some disagree Party preferences are usually acquired at home- Social Groups (can change your beliefs) Religion: Church Gender: way you’re treated as a male or female Race: treated different my society, come from different backgrounds Class: upper-class vs. lower-class, may be for or against welfare Partisanship: attend different partisan functions Interest Groups: hear their ideas- Education Many professors are Liberal College makes people more likely to participate- Political Environment People who reached 18 during WWII are much more supportive of the military, had parades, etc. People who reached 18 during the war of Vietnam is different because the war was unpopular The environment in which you are becoming aware of politicsMeasuring Public Opinion Public Opinion Polls: scientific instruments for measuring public opinion - Ask a bunch of questions about how you feel about the issues- Do not question all Americans, just a sample of the population- Population v. Sample Population: Everybody, like Americans Sample: the people you actually ask, the ones you are interested in; must be random and representative of the overall population (do not necessarily go together) Can be 2 problems: size and wording Can’t ask everybody because it takes too long and costs too much Sampling Error: function of sample size, large sample=small marginal error,and the more confident you are- Sample size: the reliability of the poll, the larger it is the more reliable, determines sample error/marginal error Measurement Error: Problem with the design of your poll, the wording can affect the outcome- Design- if a policy is followed by a positive or negative question, function of bad or problem design- Push Polling: a polling technique that shapes the decisions, done on purpose- Nonrandom Sampling: like asking them to give it to 5 of their friends or asking one class- Can Cause Bandwagon Effect: electoral support shifts to the candidate that is leading in the pollsChapter 9: Political PartiesWhy Two Parties? Political Parties: organized groups that attempt to influence government byelecting their members to important government offices Their goal is to influence government but their strategy is getting members into office Two-Party System: only two parties have a realistic opportunity to competeeffectively- An independent party can be represented but only two have a major shot Single Member District Plurality Voting (SMDP): biggest reason we havetwo parties- Def: voting in which each district elects a single member using plurality voting (for our HOR, broken down by house districts) Duverge’s Law: countries that use SMDP will have a two party system, and others will have a multiparty system- SMDP (USA) v Proportional Representation (UK) SMDP: We vote by district, a third party can get enough electoral support in one area Proportional Representation: Multimember district system in which political parties are given seats in government based on the proportion ofthe vote they get in the election, sin 60% get 60 seatsWhy 3rd Parties Don’t Last Duverge’s Law: keeps them out of office, don’t favor them Don’t waste vote- Even if they have good ideas you don’t vote for them b/c they are probably going to lose Major party absorption-