Chapter 8 Reading Questions (Political Participation)
1. Describe the voter turn-out of Americans compared to Europeans. What are some things observers blame low voter turn-out on?
2. How do the authors describe the problem? (be specific)
3. What do the authors pose as a better explanation for the problem?
4. What do the authors suggest as a cure for the problem?
5. Who must be mobilized in order for turn-out rates to get better? What are some reasons why many Americans remain unregistered?
6. What are some of the ways that Congress has tried to make voter registration easier?
7. What are some other ways, besides voting, to be involved in American democracy?
8. Describe the transition of elections from state to federal control.
9. What does the 15th Amendment state about voting rights? How was this interpreted by the Supreme Court in the 1870s?
10. What are some of the specific methods for limiting voting rights based on this interpretation? Describe each method.
11. Describe how the situation changed with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
12. Describe how voting rights changed for women. How important was this?
13. What did the Voting Rights Act of 1970 establish? Which amendment was passed in response? What affect did this changed have on voter participation?
14. Describe the ways that scholars have tried to explain the meaning of voter turn-out percentages. (there are 3 major explanations)
15. How has the nation’s voting system changed after the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections?
16. Which groups of people are more likely to misrepresent their voting habits?
17. What are the six forms of participation that researchers, Sidney Verba and Norman Nie, found reflect six different kinds of U.S. citizens? Describe each one.
18. What are some things that affect political participation?
19. Describe some of the ways other countries handle non-voting.
20. What are some ways that Democrats and Republicans have debated over voter turn-out?
21. Despite the fact that Americans seems to be voting less, what are some ways they are participating in politics?
**Make sure you define Ch.8 vocabulary, examine all figures and charts, etc.