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Ajaypal Gill

Period 2

Mr. Marr

February 4, 2008

Chapter 10

1. Electoral legitimacy is important because it makes a peaceful transfer of power

from one party to another after any elections. Furthermore, by choosing who is

to lead the country, the people can also guide the policy direction of the

government.

2. In the direct primary, party members who want to run for office file petitions to

have their names placed on the ballot, allowing voters to vote directly for the

candidates of their choice. An indirect primary is an informal meeting with

candidates and potential voters in which participants discuss their preference

for a certain candidate, and in which delegates pledged to a particular

candidate are selected to go to party conventions. It is like a series of mass

meetings in the various tiers of civil division in the various states, from the

smallest to the largest - local, County, State. Indirect primaries are easily

controlled or manipulated by the party hierarchy.

3. There are two methods for getting items on a state ballot. The first is via a

referendum, whereby voters are given the chance to approve or disapprove

some legislative act, bond issue, or constitutional amendment proposed by the

legislature. The second method is through an initiative petition, which typically

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requires gaining signatures on a proposed law equaling 10 percent of the voters

in the previous election.

4. The Motor Voter Act made voter registration easier by requiring states to allow

eligible voters to register by simply checking a box on their drivers license

application or renewal form. However, its impact on turnout was limited in the

first two elections in which it was in effect. The percentage of the population

which was registered increased, but turnout in 1996 was still significantly lower

than in the 1992 presidential election, and turnout in 1998 was lower than in

1994 midterm elections.

5. There are many demographic factors that tend to distinguish voters from non-

voters which are:

a. Education- Highly educated people are far more likely to vote.

b. Age- Older people vote more than younger people.

c. Race- Because of their low levels of education, African Americans and

Hispanics have low turnout. However, African Americans and Hispanics

with high levels of education have a higher turnout rate than whites with

comparable educational achievement.

d. Gender- Women participate in a slightly higher rate than men.

e. Marital Status- People who are married are more likely to vote than those

who are not.

f. Mobility- People who have lived in the same address for a while also are

more tied into their community, and hence more likely to vote. Those

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who have moved recently have to deal with the task of registering to vote

at their new address which requires some effort.

g. Union membership- Union members and people who live in a household

with a union member have higher than average turnout levels.

h. Religiosity- People who attend religious services regularly have above

average turnout rates whereas those who never attend religious services

are less likely than the average citizen to vote.

6. Party identification has become less important to voters because they feel that

they no longer need the parties to guide their choices. Modern technology

makes it possible for them to evaluate and make their own decisions about the

candidates.

7. The three major elements of voters decisions are: 1.) voters party

identification; 2.) voters evaluation of the candidates; and 3.) the match

between voters policy positions and those of the candidates and parties.

8. The Electoral College was created by the founding fathers because they wanted

the president to be selected by the nations elite, not directly by the people.

9. Americans overlook the voting process as a major part in the democratic

process and tend to take it for granted. American voter turnout is low because

of many factors. According to the free rider problem, a voter can rely on

others to make their choice for them. Demographics also play a part in

determining who votes and who doesnt.

In any large election the chance of any one vote influencing the outcome is

very low. This causes a difficulty for rational choice theory, in that it

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seems that a rational individual should not vote. This is in part a free rider

problem, because in theory an individual voter can rely on the rest of the

population to make a rational decision, without having to go to the effort of

becoming informed, making a decision, and going out to vote.

There are many demographic factors that tend to distinguish voters from

non-voters. For example, highly educated people are far more likely to vote. Older

people vote more than younger people. Because of their low levels of education,

African Americans and Hispanics have low turnout. However, African Americans

and Hispanics with high levels of education have a higher turnout rate than whites

with comparable educational achievement. Women participate in a slightly higher

rate than men. People who are married are more likely to vote than those who are

not. People who have lived in the same address for a while also are more tied into

their community, and hence more likely to vote. Those who have moved recently

have to deal with the task of registering to vote at their new address which

requires some effort. Union members and people who live in a household with a

union member have higher than average turnout levels. People who attend

religious services regularly have above average turnout rates whereas those who

never attend religious services are less likely than the average citizen to vote.

Easing registration requirements will not increase voter turnout. The

problem America has is not that people dont register, its that they dont vote. In

general, registration has been made quite simple with the Motor Voter Act. Though

70% of the American population is registered, only 50% of those people actually

turn out for votes. The reason behind this has been described previously.