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How Americans Participate in Politics
Americans have very many ways of participating in politics, including campaigning, voting, calling public officers, holding offices by contesting for political seats, protesting, and volunteering to take part in political posts (Brady et al.271). However, voting in for political seats is the most significant way of participating in politics. The voter registration and turnout during elections are determined by factors such as the type of election and qualifications of the voter’s perception of that particular campaign.
Political participation positively influences the distribution of values and social goods. Americans vote for their representatives who determine paying of taxes and allocation of resources and social programs. Citizens air their preferences, interests, and needs through public participation debate (Piven et al.420). These activities support government institutions, officials, and policies hence changing them. Participation in political activities highly depends on time, skills, and the available resources. Americans can work in an election campaign, circulate petitions, donate money to a political candidate or join a political party. They can also organize protests, demonstrations, or riots to air their views.
People may also engage in symbolic activities as a form of participation. There are habitual or routine acts that display support for the current political system. Shows such as saluting the national flag, reciting the reality pledge, and singing the national anthem during school assemblies or sporting activities are signs of royalty (Brady et al.273). However, some refuse to do this as a way of showing desertification to the government. People also express dissatisfaction by the symbolic act of failing to take part in voting. Voting, being the fundamental way of participating in politics, allows many people to represent their views. Americans agree that all citizens have to vote though some fail to vote.
Americans who don’t participate in voting argue that there are many barriers to voting. These barriers are cultural, social, and economically inclined. Americas conduct many elections, each governed by defending schedules and rules that confuse or tire the voters. Moreover, voters’ legal requirements and the closing of the rotor’s weeks to elections work to the disadvantage of voters (Piven et al.420). However, some states such as Minnesota, Maine, and Wisconsin register voters during the voting day. The turnover in these states is higher than the others by ten percent. America is one of the countries where the voters register themselves, and it should ensure that the program is well executed and publicized.
Many states in America prohibit inmates serving sentences for committing felonies from voting. It is only ten felonies have been released from voting. The practice denies almost four million people the right to vote (Brady et al.272). Opinions on this are divided, and most people argue that only the severe criminals should not vote. Others say that due to democracy, citizens should not be denied the rights when they have already served their sentence. The voter turnout is low, and only a quarter of those eligible participate in county, local and national elections.
Conclusively, Americans participate in politics both individually and as a group. They can write letters to congress alleging instances of civil disobedience. Moreover, activities such as protest and boycott movements need many people to work together and earn public officials’ attention. Other people participate in politics through the internet and media. Lastly, other citizens air their views by calling public officials to give their opinions on national policies and issues. The number of people contacting public officials has increased to seventeen percent in the past decade.
Works Cited
Brady, Henry E., Sidney Verba, and Kay Lehman Schlozman. “Beyond SES: A resource model of political participation.” American political science review (1995): 271-294.
Piven, Frances Fox, and Richard A. Cloward. “Power repertoires and globalization.” Politics & Society 28.3 (2000): 413-430.