Exam 10: Political Participation

Which is the principle that the authority to make decisions on behalf of society belongs to the people?

Which region of the country tends to have lower voter turnout?

Why do countries like Iran, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe consider themselves "democracies"?

The study of political participation is ________ in the social sciences.

Today, voting rates among blacks across the country ________ those of other racial groups.

Which of the following is true about voting behavior?

Since voting is a costly activity and since any individual's vote is unlikely to influence the outcome of most elections, citizens' decisions about whether to participate in an election may constitute a/an ________.

Americans ________ at lower rates than people in most other democracies.

Research in the early 2000s on the California gubernatorial race demonstrated that small increases in distances to polling locations _____________.

Today, it is common for the two major parties to disagree over proposed reforms that might affect the costs of voting. Not surprisingly, ________ reforms aimed at making it easier to vote or to register to vote are frequently opposed by ________.

Explain the paradox of voting. What is paradoxical or puzzling about individuals' decisions to cast a ballot? What accounts for the fact that some individuals ultimately do vote, overcoming the paradox, while others do not?

Democracies all over the world set boundaries on who can and cannot vote. In the American political system, the ________ formally control(s) the franchise, but must conform to ________.

Which is NOT currently a "cost" of voting in American national elections?

Which of the following could be considered an unintentional barrier to voting?

Writing letters to a member of Congress, attending a political rally, and donating money to a political campaign are examples of ________.

In recent years, there has been intense controversy over the implementation of voter ID requirements at the polls. However, some version of the reform has been passed by ________ of the states and requires that voters present government-issued photo identification in order to prove identity and eligibility.

The 1960s sit-ins by students at lunch counters in Greensboro, North Carolina, to protest "whites-only" seating at restaurants and other Jim Crow barriers were considered ________ at the time. Today, we may consider these actions ________.

The equation for the "paradox of voting" is expressed as pB- C, and it is assumed that if the value is greater than zero, the individual will vote. In this equation, ________________.

________ is the most fundamental participatory act in any democracy.

Americans ________ at higher rates than people in most other democracies.