College in the Schools - POL 1001: American Democracy in a Changing World

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Participation

Since 1972, voter turnout has hovered around 55% of registered voters. Many scholars have pointed to educational attainment, income, race, age, and voter apathy as well as ineffective electoral systems to explain low turnout in the United States. What would maintaining or increasing that current levels of participation look like, and what is at stake for American democracy? First, take a position on political participation. Next, the readings provide examples of policy changes that could either augment or maintain political participation. Drawing on these, and your own research, give policy recommendations to support your stance on political participation.

Electoral Reform

• Point: Federal Regulations are Necessary for Federal Elections from Points of View: Electoral Reform, 2009
• Counterpoint: Local Election Procedures Make from Points of View: Electoral Reform, 2009 More Sense than Federal Regulation

Voter Holiday

• For Reformers, Making Election Day Easier is a Hard Sell from "The New Standard"

Voter Lottery

• Arizona plan offers chance to cast a vote, win a million from SFGate

Internet Voting

• Digital Democracy Comes of Age: Internet Voting and the 2000 Arizona Democratic Primary Election from PS, Political Science & Politics

Representation

The rise of the Tea Party movement in the 2010 midterm election, as well as the enduring popularity of Third Party candidates in presidential elections such as Ralph Nader, Ron Paul, Ross Perot and others, suggests that there are segments of the United States who do not believe that their interests are represented by the two-party system. What would restructuring the electoral system in the United States look like and what is at stake for American democracy? Drawing on the readings and your own research, provide policy recommendations for the best way to restructure or maintain democratic practices in the United States. Keep in mind that all policy recommendations should be oriented towards maximizing political representation.

Third parties

• Katel, P. (2010, March 19). Tea party movement. CQ Researcher, 20, 241-264.
• The Ballot or the Bullet from The Defenders Online

Proportional representation

• The Case for Proportional Representation from the Boston Review

Instant Run-off voting

Redistricting

• Pulling Back the Curtain on Redistricting from the The Brookings Institution