Political Participation in the U.S.

Different ways people can get involved in politics, ranging from voting to campaigning.

A vote on a specific law or proposal already proposed by the legislature.

A process where citizens propose new laws or changes and put them on the ballot.

Percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election, often lower in the US compared to other countries.

%VAP (Voting-Age Population) and %VEP (Voting-Eligible Population) measures voter turnout, %VAP is always lower.

State laws governing whether and when convicted felons can vote, a politically debated issue.

Presidential elections have higher turnout than other US elections held in the same year.

Texas gubernatorial elections turnout often differ significantly from national averages.

Declares white primaries unconstitutional, a significant step towards ending voting barriers for Black citizens.

Suspended voting barriers and required federal pre-clearance of voting law changes in certain states with a history of discrimination.

Ruled Section 4 of the VRA unconstitutional, striking down the coverage formula for federal pre-clearance of voting laws.

Determined which states/localities needed federal pre-clearance of voting law changes due to a history of discrimination.

Required states with a history of discrimination to get federal approval for any changes to voting laws.

Laws requiring voters to show a photo ID at the polls.

Reduced federal oversight of voting laws in states with a history of discrimination.

The possibility of Congress passing a new VRA with a revised Section 4 addressing contemporary voting rights.

Texas voter registration laws were considered 'harsh' even before recent changes. These laws include a 30-day pre-election registration deadline, no automatic registration, and no online voter registration.

The liberal argument for easier voter access focuses on the challenges faced by individuals who may find registration and voting difficult. They argue that barriers like registration deadlines and lack of online options hinder participation.

The conservative argument for stricter election security emphasizes preventing voter fraud. They advocate for practices like Voter ID laws, arguing these are necessary to maintain electoral integrity.

Arguments for or against Voter ID laws often suffer from flaws like incomplete information, appeals to fear, dismissing alternative motives, and labeling individuals instead of engaging in respectful dialogue.

Political parties play a significant role in state elections, while local elections are often non-partisan. Interest groups are organized entities with a specific focus, and their influence is more visible at the state level than locally.

Political parties perform three key functions: they help select candidates for office through primaries and caucuses, they develop a program and educate the public, and they organize government after winning elections.

Major parties are able to regularly win elections and hold primaries and caucuses. Minor parties are all other parties, including the Libertarian Party as an example.

The winner-take-all system eliminates third parties because the party with the most votes wins, regardless of whether they have a majority. This system encourages parties to gain support rather than focus on ideologies.

A voting system where the number of seats a party wins in a legislature is proportional to the percentage of votes they receive. This aims to ensure that all parties are represented more fairly.

The tendency for candidates from different parties to adopt similar policy positions, especially during elections, to appeal to the largest number of voters. This happens because voters in the center are more likely to decide elections.

When strong political parties and their members prioritize loyalty to their party above compromise, it can lead to gridlock and a lack of progress in legislative decision-making.

Primary elections, where party members choose their nominee for an office, have become crucial, especially when general elections are uncompetitive. The winner of a primary has a high chance of winning the general election.

The Texas governor is elected by a relatively small number of voters, specifically those who participate in the Republican primary. This is because Texas is a predominantly Republican state, and the Republican primary winner is often guaranteed the general election win.

Voters must declare a party affiliation ahead of time and can only vote in that party's primary.

Registered party members can only vote in their party's primary, while unregistered voters can choose either party.

Voters can choose to vote in any party's primary, regardless of registration, but cannot participate in both.

A state where different political parties use different primary systems.

An organization of people united by a common interest, seeking to influence government policy.

Interest groups focus on specific policy goals, while political parties aim to win elections and control government.

Views emphasizing limited government intervention and individual responsibility.

Views emphasizing social justice, government intervention, and protecting the environment.

The influence an interest group has depends on its size, budget, expertise, and reputation. Large membership can be hard to organize, wealth is helpful but not enough, expertise provides knowledge and arguments, and a good track record increases their status.

In Texas, business interest groups hold the most power, followed by occupational groups (less powerful) and ethnic/racial groups (least powerful).

Interest groups use money and expertise to gain access to lawmakers and influence policy. Legislators rely on outside experts for knowledge.

Lobbyists meet with policymakers to influence decisions. While everyone has the right to influence government, not everyone has the resources to do so.

PACs are formed by interest groups, industries, or individuals to raise money for political candidates and causes. They concentrate financial power of many individuals, allowing for greater influence than a single person.

Although corporations cannot directly donate to political campaigns in Texas, they can contribute to PACs, indirectly influencing elections.

Citizens, interest groups, PACs, and lobbyists all use their resources (money, expertise) to influence policymaking.

PACs can become liabilities if they fail to back winning candidates, leaving the group with unused funds and less influence.