Extent To Which The Political System Allows Democratic Participation

Question 1

Citizens opportunities to influence decision making - Introduction

Answer 1

• In the USA, citizens have opportunities to influence decision making to an extent.
• US citizens have their opportunities layed out for them in the Bill of Rights, specifically through the 10 amendments.
• In this essay the oppurtunites for participation i will be discussing are pressure groups, voting, joining a party and standing as candidate.
• This essay will discuss US citizens do have influence to effect decision making in the USA to an extent.

Question 2

Pressure Groups - successful

Answer 2

• One way in which US citizens can effect decision making is through pressure groups.
• This is when citizens can express their opinions among others who have the same beliefs.
• Evidence of this is in 2022 according to momsdemandaction the National Rifle Association (NRA) had 4.3 million members.

Question 3

Pressure Groups - successful Analysis

Answer 3

• Arguably this shows, the extent to which there are opportunities for the people of America to influence decision making as due to the large number of members of pressure groups like the NRA, it shows they can have a effect on decisions relating to their group.

Question 4

Pressure Groups - not successful

Answer 4

• However, citizens are limited in the opportunities that exist for them to influence decision making as membership can lower.
• This means citizens can leave a pressure group if they feel they no longer connect with the beliefs of the group.
• Evidence of this is in 2018 the NRA had 5.5 million members, this has significantly lowered in the last few years as allegations of corruption have came out again the CEO.

Question 5

Pressure Groups - not successful Analysis

Answer 5

• Arguably, this shows how citizens are limited in the opportunity that exist for them to influence decision making as people can leave behind their membership to a pressure group like the NRA if they no longer feel confident in the group as the NRA’s membership has lessened since 2018.

Question 6

Pressure Groups - Evaluation

Answer 6

• In evaluation, citizens do have opportunities to influence decision making to an extent through pressure groups.
• This means Pressure Groups such as the NRA can have large amounts of members in this case 4.3 million, which can boost their levels of impact.
• Nevertheless, in recent years there has been a drop in membership from 5.5 million in 2018 so impact of the group would have lowered

Question 7

Voting - successful

Answer 7

• A second way in which US citizens can effect decision making is through voting.
• This means once eligible citizens can freely vote for a person or party at local or state level.
• Evidence of this is according to Census.gov 66.8% of over 18 eligible voters voted in the 2020 Presidential election

Question 8

Voting - successful Analysis

Answer 8

Arguably, this shows the extent to which there are opportunities for US citizens to influence decision making as nearly 70% of the population participated in n election which would affect decision making.

Question 9

Voting - not successful

Answer 9

• However, citizens are limited in the opportunities that exist for them to influence decision making as it can be difficult for some citizens to vote due to accessibility.
• This means citizens who live in countryside areas may find it harder to cast a vote due to a shortage of polling stations.
• Evidence of this is from 2012-2021, 1700 polling stations have closed across the USA.

Question 10

Voting - not successful Analysis

Answer 10

• Arguably,this shows voting is becoming less accessible due to a lesser number of polling stations for citizens to cast their ballot.

Question 11

Voting - Evaluation

Answer 11

• In Evaluation, citizens do have opportunities to influence decision making to an extent.
• This means citizens can freely cast a vote without judgement as nearly 70% of citizens voted in the 2020 presidential election.
• Nevertheless, voting isn’t as accessible as it once was as in nearly over a decade 1700 polling stations have closed across the US so citizens do have opportunities to influence decision making to an extent

Question 12

Joining a Party - successful

Answer 12

• A third way in which citizens can effect decision making is through joining a party.
• This is when citizens can join a party, through membership, that they feel represents them politically.
• Evidence of this is according to Pew Research in 2022 the Democratic Party had 47.1 million members.

Question 13

Joining a Party - successful analysis

Answer 13

• Arguably, this shows the extent to which there are opportunities for the people of America to influence decision making do to the millions of citizens who have joined the Democratic Party who they support strongly.

Question 14

Joining a Party - not successful

Answer 14

• However, citizens are limited in the opportunities that exist for hem to influence decision making as some citizens don’t join a party.
• This means some Us citizens identify as politically independent so support no party.
• Evidence of this is 49% of US citizens say they are politically independent according to Pew research in 2022.

Question 15

Joining a Party - not successful analysis

Answer 15

• Arguably this shows how citizens are limited in opportunities as party membership has been declining which has thus adversely impacted the voice and impact the party has.

Question 16

Joining a Party - Evaluation

Answer 16

In Evaluation, citizens do have oppurtunites to influence decision making to an extent through joining a party.
- This means over 40 million US citizens have took the opportunity to join the Democratic Party.
- Nevertheless, many citizens have not and party numbers are dwindling therefore the impact of the party is lessening limiting the opportunities for individuals in joining a party.

Question 17

Standing as a candidate - successes

Answer 17

• A fourth way in which US citizens can affect decision making is through standing as a candidate.
• This means citizens can stand as candidate at local or federal level in the US elections.
• Evidence of this is in 2016 Donald Trump stood as a Presidential candidate with very little political knowledge and as able to defeat a more experienced Hilary Clinton

Question 18

Standing as a candidate - successes analysis

Answer 18

• Arguably, this shows the extent to which there are opportunities for the people of America to influence decision making as anyone can stand as a candidate no matter their prior political knowledge and still have a chance to win.

Question 19

Standing as a candidate - successes furthered

Answer 19

• Likewise, citizens also have oppurtunity to participate through standing as candidate as anyone no matter race or gender can sit in congress.
• This means there is greater representation in Congress therefore more representation in US politics.
• Evidence of this is Pew research in January 2023 published a report that 133 Senators and Representatives where people apart of ethnic minorities, this has doubled over 20 years.
• Arguably this shows citizens do have opportunities to impact decision through standing as candidate as people of different races and genders are becoming more involved in the federal government which shows more representation.

Question 20

Standing as a candidate - successes furthered Analysis

Answer 20

In evaluation, citizens do have oppurtunites to influence decion making to an extent as by standing as a candidate no matter their political knowledge they can stand as a candidate at local or federal level.
- Likewise, citizens can participate in opportunities to influence decision making as anyone can stand as a candidate no matter their gender or race so more representation is being seen across the US political system.

Question 21

Opportunity to influence decision making - Conclusion

Answer 21

In conclusion, in the USA citizens have oppurtunites to influence decision making to an extent as US citizens can participate through voting, where we have seen nearly 70% of citizens vote in the latest Presidential election. However, it can be argued that citizens are limited in their oppurtunites to vote as 1700 polling station have closed across the USA in nearly a decade.
- Furthermore, pressure groups can provide citizens oppurtunites to impact decision making as groups like the NRA have millions of members, 4.3 million in the NRA, which provides them with a political voice.
- Nevertheless, many people are leaving pressure groups such as the NRA a the NRA has lost many members in the last few years which limits their likely hood to effect government decision making.
- Overall, citizens have opportunities to influence decision making in the USA to an extent.