Party Politics: Evolution of the Democrat and Republican Parties
Republicans and Democrats of today bear little resemblance to their predecessors. From the time of Lincoln until the 1930s, Republicans were the great reformers who believe in active government whereas Democrats with their base support in the South ...
Pressure Politics: Benefits of Organizing for a Cause
Coming together with people of like minds has benefits of its own, benefits that go beyond the issue or cause in question. It allows people to feel connected. The greatest challenge is whether or not a group, whatever the cause, can come together wi...
Pressure Politics: Interest-group Society, An
The history of the nation is full of examples of people with shared beliefs coming together to influence the rules by which we are governed. America is an interest-group society. From the time of the Boston tea party to the civil rights movement and...
Voices of the People: Political Participation Impacts Health of the Nation
Political participation, in all the ways it is practiced, is critical to the health of a nation. Despite grumblings about the political process and the disappointing performance of recent years, the right to vote is the cornerstone of democracy. A l...
Voices of the People: Commitment to Civic Duty
Why do some people feel a commitment to civic duty while others are either apathetic or hostile toward the system? In the mid-20th century the public was more optimistic regarding government and politics. As a result of the Vietnam War and Watergate...
Voices of the People: Age and Voting Behavior
The age of the voter is often an indication of voting behavior. One of the biggest changes in American politics in the last decades is the political activism of elderly Young voters are much less likely to vote than older people, certainly a change ...
Voices of the People: Citizen Involvement in the United States
The number of U. S. citizens who work for the betterment of their communities is comparable to or higher than most other democracies. This volunteer tradition in many ways is unique to American politics. Many feel that their community is a place whe...
Frames of Reference: Continuity of Political Attitudes
Although political attitudes formed early in life seldom change dramatically, the basic framework is refined by life experiences. Student activists in the 1960s tend to remain active although their causes may be more moderate than they were as colle...
Frames of Reference: Delicate Balance: The Influence of Public Opinion on Political Decision-making, A
To what extent should public opinion influence political decisions? Experts point out that citizens elect representatives to assess the complexities and make decisions regarding a myriad of issues. They are expected to be responsive to the electorat...
The Nation's Welfare: Two Divergent Tiers of the American Welfare State, The
As the number of people on welfare roles increased, concern over the cost of public assistance programs grew. By contrast, investment in social insurance programs that benefit the middle class were politically popular, nationally uniform, and immune...