Six Forms of Six Forms of Political Political

ParticipationParticipationPolitical Participation, Public Political Participation, Public Opinion, and Political PartiesOpinion, and Political Parties

General Observations of General Observations of Verba and NieVerba and Nie

8 to 10% of Americans misreport (or 8 to 10% of Americans misreport (or exaggerate) their voting habitsexaggerate) their voting habits

Young, low-income, less-educated and Young, low-income, less-educated and nonwhite people are more likely to nonwhite people are more likely to misreport than othersmisreport than others

Politics is not at the heart of the day-Politics is not at the heart of the day-to-day life of the American peopleto-day life of the American people

A higher proportion of citizens take A higher proportion of citizens take part in nonpolitical than political part in nonpolitical than political activitiesactivities

Completely InactiveCompletely Inactive 22% of the population 22% of the population

(roughly 1/5)(roughly 1/5) Rarely votesRarely votes No organizational No organizational

involvementinvolvement Rarely, if ever, talks Rarely, if ever, talks

about politics and about politics and issuesissues

Typically have little Typically have little education, low income, education, low income, and are very youngand are very young

Voting SpecialistsVoting Specialists

21% of population21% of population Votes but does Votes but does

little elselittle else Tends not to have Tends not to have

much schooling or much schooling or incomeincome

Substantially Substantially older than the older than the average personaverage person

CampaignersCampaigners 15% of population15% of population VotesVotes Campaigns activists, Campaigns activists,

works phones, walks works phones, walks precincts, etc.precincts, etc.

Distinguishing features: Distinguishing features: interested in conflicts, interested in conflicts, passions, and struggles of passions, and struggles of politicspolitics

Clearly identified with a Clearly identified with a partyparty

Willingness to take strong Willingness to take strong positions on issuespositions on issues

CommunalistsCommunalists

20% of population20% of population Much like campaigners in social Much like campaigners in social

background but doesn’t like conflict background but doesn’t like conflict or tensions of partisan campaignsor tensions of partisan campaigns

Reserves energies for community Reserves energies for community activities of nonpartisan nature:activities of nonpartisan nature: Forming or joining non-political local Forming or joining non-political local

organizations to deal with local organizations to deal with local problemsproblems

Contacting local officialsContacting local officials

Parochial ParticipantsParochial Participants

4% of population4% of population Don’t voteDon’t vote Stays out of Stays out of

election campaigns election campaigns and civic and civic associationsassociations

Willing to contact Willing to contact officials about officials about specific, often specific, often personal problemspersonal problems

Complete ActivistsComplete Activists

11% 11% (approximately (approximately 1/91/9thth of population) of population)

Highly Highly educated/High educated/High IncomeIncome

Participates in all Participates in all forms of politicsforms of politics

Tends to be middle Tends to be middle agedaged