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Session Length
~17 min
Adaptive Checks
15 questions
Transfer Probes
8
Political participation encompasses all the ways citizens engage with the political system to influence government decisions and public policy. While voting is the most recognized form of participation, Americans engage through a wide spectrum of activities including campaigning, contacting elected officials, joining interest groups, donating to candidates or PACs, protesting, serving on juries, running for office, and engaging in online activism.
The U.S. electoral system shapes participation through its structure: winner-take-all single-member districts favor a two-party system, the Electoral College determines presidential outcomes rather than the national popular vote, and primary elections allow party members to select nominees. Voter turnout in the United States is lower than most other established democracies, driven by structural barriers (registration requirements, Tuesday voting), demographic factors (age, income, education), and psychological factors (political efficacy, mobilization).
Campaign finance has become a defining feature of American elections. The Federal Election Commission regulates contributions to candidates, but Supreme Court decisions including Buckley v. Valeo (1976) and Citizens United v. FEC (2010) have expanded the role of money in politics by equating spending with speech. PACs, Super PACs, and dark money organizations now play major roles in funding campaigns and shaping public debate.
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The system established by the Constitution for electing the president. Each state receives electors equal to its total congressional representation. A candidate needs 270 of 538 electoral votes to win. Most states use winner-take-all allocation.
Example: In 2016, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes but lost the Electoral College 227-304 to Donald Trump.
The percentage of eligible voters who actually cast ballots in an election. U.S. turnout is lower than most democracies, typically 55-65% in presidential elections and 35-45% in midterms.
Example: The 2020 presidential election saw approximately 66.8% turnout, the highest in over a century.
An organization that raises and spends money to elect or defeat candidates. Traditional PACs can contribute directly to candidates with limits ($5,000 per candidate per election). Super PACs can raise unlimited funds but cannot coordinate with candidates.
Example: Emily's List is a PAC that supports pro-choice Democratic women candidates for office.
An organized group that seeks to influence public policy without running candidates for office. Interest groups lobby, litigate, mobilize members, and fund campaigns to advance their goals.
Example: The National Rifle Association (NRA) lobbies Congress, rates candidates on gun policy, and mobilizes voters in elections.
A citizen's belief that their political participation can make a difference. Internal efficacy is confidence in one's own ability to understand and engage in politics. External efficacy is belief that the government responds to citizens.
Example: A voter with high political efficacy believes their vote matters and that elected officials listen to constituent concerns.
A political system dominated by two major parties. In the U.S., the winner-take-all electoral structure and single-member districts create strong incentives for two dominant parties rather than multiple competitive parties.
Example: Third-party candidates like Ross Perot (1992) and Ralph Nader (2000) won significant votes but no electoral votes, illustrating how the system disadvantages minor parties.
Supreme Court ruling that political spending by corporations and unions is protected speech under the First Amendment. This decision led to the creation of Super PACs, which can raise unlimited funds for independent expenditures.
Example: After Citizens United, outside spending in federal elections increased dramatically, with Super PACs spending over $2 billion in the 2020 election cycle.
An election in which party members select their nominees for the general election. Open primaries allow any registered voter to participate; closed primaries restrict voting to registered party members.
Example: The Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary traditionally launch the presidential nomination process.
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