AP GOV CHAP #7 PARTICIPATION AND VOTING – Flashcards

''those activities of citizens that attempt to influence the structure of government, the selection of government officials, or the policies of government.'' This definition embraces both conventional and unconventional forms of political participation.

is behavior that is acceptable to the dominant culture in a given situation. Relatively routine political behavior that uses institutional channels and is acceptable to the dominant culture. Ex; especially campaigning for candidates and voting in elections. Campaign posters in front yards is conventional; spray-painting political slogans on buildings is not. or as political demonstrations, carrying signs outside an abortion clinic.

is a relatively uncommon behavior that challenges or defies established institutions or the dominant culture (and thus is personally stressful to participants and their opponents). Ex: linking arms to prevent entrance ( are often used by powerless groups to gain political benefits while working within the system).

Terrorism is an extreme and problematic case of unconventional political behavior. the U.S. legal code defines terrorism as ''premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by sub-national groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience.'' they do not qualify as political participation because terrorists do not seek to influence government but to destroy it. EX: Timothy McVeigh, bombed the federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995,supporting gun owners, religious sects, and patriotic militia groups.( domestic politic) 9/11, 2001, al Qaeda attack on New York and Washington, D.C., killing almost 3,000 Americans. ( International politic) 11/13, 2015 Paris,ISIS ( international politic) Political goals motivated all three acts of terrorism.

Tea Party of 1773, March, unconventional participation to dramatize their cause. Selma, ( 1965, for African-american to vote) Petitions, Keystone pipeline,( to defend the ecosystem) Boycott,refusing to buy lettuce or grapes picked by nonunion farm workers.

Unconventional participation that involves assembling crowds to confront businesses and local governments to demand a hearing. Ex: Occupy Wallstreet, trying to confront business they protest ex: Strike ; collective ...... rights Riot: Rally on immigration in Chicago Extreme direct action: Revolution,Terrorism

Conventional political behaviors fall into two major categories: actions that show support for government policies, Ex: Running for office, Voting in elections and those that try to change or influence policies., Ex: demonstrating ( pro-life and pro choice groups)

Action that expresses allegiance to government and country. Ex: Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance ( emphasis on Republic) Serving as an election judge Organizing a holiday parade

Citizens use influencing behavior to modify or even reverse government policy to serve political interests. Ex: yard signs ( influencing election) Writing to congressman ''not in my back yard,'' or NIMBY, phenomenon, contributing money to a candidate's campaign is another form of influencing behavior.

Some citizens try to influence government to obtain benefits for themselves, their immediate families, or close friends. Ex: Some might pressure their alderman to rebuild the curbs on their street or vote against an increase in school taxes,( especially if they have no children). Citizens often ask for special services from local government= ''contacting behavior'' Such behavior is related to socioeconomic status: people of higher socioeconomic status are more likely to contact public officials.

Few people realize that using the court system is a form of political participation, a way for citizens to press for their rights in a democratic society. Class action, purpose = Change of policy Ex: Brown v. Board of Education (1954).( category, judicial activism) Target, segregation at school Capital One, ( category, Binding arbitration,Unions) Target: Credit cards

A legal action brought by a person or group on behalf of a number of people in similar circumstances. Participation through the courts is usually beyond the means of individual citizens,.

The government website USA.gov helps people find information online and offers video tutorials on standard topics. the private site GovTrack.us provides easier access to congressional voting records than the government site Thomas.gov. The Center for Responsible Politics covers campaign finance, lobbyists' spending, and other forms of political influence. The National Institute on Money in State Politics covers similar ground for the states. OMB Watch focuses on government spending and the budget deficit, the Institute for Truth in Accounting lobbies to reduce the national debt.

The most common form of political behavior in most industrial democracies is voting for candidates. The rate of voting is known as voter turnout,

The percentage of eligible citizens who actually vote in a given election.

voting for candidates in the United States is less common than it is in other countries, Takes time Tuesday, electing day IS a business dayPeople don't feel their vote count Vote ID's add to voters burden ....

The heart of democratic government lies in the electoral process. It constitutes the critical difference between democratic and nondemocratic governments.

The right to vote. All countries have age requirements for voting, and all disqualify some inhabitants on various grounds: lack of citizenship, criminal record, mental incompetence, and others.

was a philosophy of political reform that trusted the goodness and wisdom of individual citizens and distrusted ''special interests'' (railroads, corporations) and political institutions (traditional political parties, legislatures).

A preliminary election, run by the state government, in which the voters choose each party's candidates for the general election.

The process for removing an elected official from office. (by a special election initiated by a petition signed by a specified number of voters). Very rare, , only one state governor had ever been unseated until 2003, when California voters threw out Governor Gray Davis , replaced by actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 2012, Wisconsin voters also sought to recall Republican governor Scott Walker but failed.

two voting mechanisms that still in use: 1) A referendum 2) The initiative

An election on a policy issue.it is a direct vote by the people on either a proposed law or an amendment to a state constitution. The measures subject to popular vote are known as propositions.

Twenty-four states permit popular referenda on laws, and all but Delaware require a referendum for a constitutional amendment. Most referenda are placed on the ballot by legislatures, not voters.

A procedure by which voters can propose an issue to be decided by the legislature or by the people in a referendum. It requires gathering a specified number of signatures and submitting a petition to a designated agency. Ex: Among the most popular petitions filed with the White House: Extradite a Twin Cities dentist.

citizens can exercise great power over government policy