Declinging_Political_Participation_In_The_US

Declinging Political Participation In The US Declining Political Participation in the United States. Free and fair election is the main prerequisite for sustaining a democracy. It is the key instrument for gaining legitimate representation in government. “Participation in politics is very much an act of consent to be governed.” (Light, 1997), I think that is the most apparent and understandable explanation on the subject of political participation. It means that if I vote for a candidate, I give him the right to decide for me what and how things should be done, supposedly in my behalf. That is the core principle of a representative democracy. Voting is one of the most common ways of participation in politics. Besides that, an average American citizen has such options as giving money to a campaign, contacting government by mail or in person, taking part in a demonstrations, working as a volunteer for a candidate running for office and joining a local governmental board. However, not all of these options are accessible, in other words affordable, for everyone. It is not only about financial expenses, like in giving money to an organized interest, but also in carrying a cost whether in time or information (Light, 1997). If person decides to vote he vote, people, participation, percent, political, voting, wilson, states, government, elections, time, politics, 1992, united, public, light, election, democracy, 1997, voters, person, percentage, party, one, much, local, americans, american, working, whether, voter, very, turnout, registration, registered