Citizen Participation in a Democracy

1
Citizen Participation in a Democracy

• How can you make a difference in a democracy?

2
Lunch Counter Transparency

• What interesting details do you see?
• What actions do these people appear to be taking?
• What problem or problems do you think these
  people are trying to address?
• What do you think the results of their actions
  were?

3
What you should know

1. What does it take to become a U.S. citizen?
2. Define political culture
3. How can ordinary people make a difference in a
   democratic society?
4. What is civic duty? Social Capital?
5. What are the four categories of civic engagement?

4
Citizen Participation then and now

• Alexis de Tocqueville 1831
• Robert D. Putnam 1990s
• What a difference 150 years makes.

5
Citizenship

• What is citizenship?
• The definition was not always clear-cut
• Constitution did not define citizenship in
  regards to how it would be determined.
  Assumptions assumed state citizens and U.S. born
  were national citizens. Dred Scott case proved
  this to be untrue.

6
Civil Rights

• What do you remember from U.S. History and the
  Civil Rights movement?
• 14th Ammendment
• Plessy v. Ferguson
• Brown v. Board of Education
• Civil Rights Act of 1964

7
Becoming a Citizen

• There are two ways to become a U.S. citizen
• First-born in the U.S.
• Second is through naturalization

8
Naturalization Process

• Must be 18 years old
• Lawful and permanent resident of the U.S.
• Completed application for naturalization
• Interview with immigration official
• Civics test
• Citizenship ceremony where oath of allegiance is
  taken

9
Political Culture in the U.S.

• Political Culture a societys framework of
  shared values, beliefs and attitudes concerning
  their politics and government
• Political Culture can be expressed in a variety
  of ways
• Americans share political values such as
  liberty, equality, democracy, individualism, free
  enterprise, justice, patriotism, optimism, and
  civic duty

10
Civic Duty

• What is civic duty?
• Belief that for democracy to flourish, citizens
  should vote and participate in civic and
  political affairs.
• Most people think of voting, but it is much
  beyond that.
• Civic duty helps us to ensure a civil society,
  the social capital of democracy

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Social Capital

• Social Capital is connections among individuals
  that are forged through their participation in
  voluntary associations
• Can you think of an example of social capital
  that you take part in?
• Building our social capital is a great way to do
  greatness in the world

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Four Categories of Civic Engagement

• 1. Electoral Specialists-people who mainly engage
  in the political process. People in this group
  vote, volunteer in political campaigns and try to
  persuade others to vote as well
• 2. Civic Specialists-Focus on improving
  communities and helping others. They join local
  civic groups, support nonprofit organizations and
  take part in fundraising for worthy causes

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Four Categories cont.

• 3. Dual Activists-People who engage in both
  electoral and civic activities. They will pass
  out campaign leaflets one day and volunteer in a
  soup kitchen the next
• 4. Disengaged-People not significantly involved
  in political life. They dont vote or pay
  attention to civic affairs

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Where do you fall?

• You will be partaking in a civic participation
  project over the rest of the semester.