Section 2: Chapter 2, Political Participation Summary and Analysis

American's involvement in the government and political life has changed over the last thirty years. Except for voting, America's political involvement is about the same as other democracies. There are many ways for people to express their views and exercise their rights.

In 1960, over sixty percent of voting age Americans voted in the Presidential election. In 1996, around 49 percent voted in a similar election. Over the last thirty-six years, voting has declined by about twenty-five percent. Yet, these numbers only tell part of the story. During much of the nation's history, registration requirements prevented many people from voting. In addition, blacks were disenfranchised, particularly in the South. During the 1960s, many of the voting requirements were changed, and millions of Americans voted for the first time. This influx of new voters probably hides the decline that...