Notes On Friday Oct. 10th

Conventional participation is relatively routine, threating behavior that uses the channels of representatives governemnt.
1. supportive behaviors are purely ceremonial acts expressing allgiance to government and country.
2. influencing behaviors seek to modify or reverse government policy
citizens may seek to derive particular benefits from government

1. democratic theory encourages citizens to serve their self-intersest through channels such as voting
2. to obtain lucrative benefits
3. individuals higher economic status are more likely to contact public offices for service
4. citizens demand more of local than national government
5. more money and more contributions

1. low initiative acts, such as voting, do not require much effort by the individual.
2. high initiative acts require active participation by individuals to obtain benefits for a group. Such activities can be associated with the electoral process.

Compared with citizens of other countries, Americans are less likely to vote in elections but more likely to engage in political participation.

participation through elections and voting lies at the heart of the democratic process

three rules for making collective decisions:
who can vote
how much each person's vote will count
how many votes are needed to win the election

the gradual elimination of properly holding requirements expanded suffrage to all while males by the 1850's but further expansion of the right ot vote come rather slowly and only as a result of a wide range of unconventional political actions.

women'r right to vote was banned until 1869

1948, laws preventing blacks to vote in private primaries were unconsitutional
15th amendement gave the blacks the right ot vote

voting rights act of 1965 got rid of the voting tests blacks had to take in order to vote

1971, voting age was lowered to 18 by amending the 26th amendment

progressivism- a philosophy of political reform popular during the 1920's

state run direct primarys allow oridnary citizens to choose who is going to be the canidate

recall- special election started by petition, citizens can remove an unpopulare officail from office

referendum- citizens vote directly on issues written as propositions

initiative voters propose issues to be decided by the legislature or directly determined by the voters.