Political Participation

See Attached Document

Part I – 10 points – 2 points each

  1. Watch the following 6 minute video:

https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4547610/voter-turno…

  1. Provide two details that this video explains about voter turnout.
  1. Why do you think 18 year olds are allowed to vote, but 17 years old are not? How does this compare to other age limits that are set by the government, such as legal drinking age, serving in the military or obtaining a driver’s license?Why do you think 18 is considered the age of an adult?

  1. Read this quote by George Marshall: “Democracy is the most demanding of all forms of government in terms of the energy, imagination and public spirit required of the individual.”Citizens who are non-participants in democracy are considered free riders.
  1. Should free riders be required to pay more taxes since they are not contributing in other ways?Why or why not?
  1. Should those that are involved in democracy receive extra benefits?Why or why not?

  1. Australia, which has a 95% voting rate, fines citizens who do not vote. How do you feel about this law? Why? Do you think this law would work in the United States? Why or why not?

Part II – 20 points

Please read the following two articles, which are two very different views of government in our daily lives.One says that government is good and necessary, while the other believes that the government is increasingly invading our privacy.After you have read both articles, please answer the question below.

http://www.governmentisgood.com/articles.php?aid=1

http://dailysignal.com/2014/01/05/alarming-growth-…

Though you might agree partially with both views, which view do you feel most closely fits with your thoughts on government? Why?Be sure to include 2-3 specific details from each article in your response.

Part III – 20 points

(Three paragraphs, 5-7 sentences for each paragraph)

Step 1: Choose a topic to research regarding political participation.

Step 2: In your first paragraph summarize the topic.What are some of the major issues involved with this topic?

Step 3: In your second paragraph, what are the two sides to this issue? Why are some people in support of the issue, but others are not?Are there any politicians that have shown support for this topic?

Step 4: What is your opinion about this issue? Why do you feel that way?

If you do not want to choose one of these topics, send an email request to your Government teacher for approval. Please make sure that you have listed your sources.

Topic #1:Voting ID Laws

http://www.longdistancevoter.org/voter-id-laws#.VjDjqLerTIU

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/government-elections-politics/why-voter-id-laws-arent-really-about-fraud/

Topic #2:Using internet resources for voting

https://www.verifiedvoting.org/resources/internet-voting/

Topic #3:Requiring non-voters to pay fines

http://www.idea.int/vt/compulsory_voting.cfm