How Level of Education Affects Political Party Affiliation
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Connecting the Political Dots:
How Level of Education Affects Political Party Affiliation
Marcos D. Madrigal II
Final Draft
Pol. 270.003
Professor Effanbee Ayala
Introduction
The power of America lies within the heart of its people and the ability to have their voices heard. One of the best ways to accomplish this is through an electoral vote. By voting, the people of America or any Democratic country can control the route of the government and the decisions it makes. To decide if those decisions be new and current with society, or kept traditional is why such ability is granted under the 15th amendment. In addition, with voting behaviors determined by Democratic, Republican and Independent parties, it is important to follow the factors that affect one’s decision to identify themselves by certain political party. There are varieties of factors that form these distinct identities such as family, region, racial background, religiosity, and culture while these may be key determining causes, this paper will look at education level more precisely as it tends to be the most internally and externally expansive characteristic that applies to all or most individuals’ as well as their in voting behavior or political identification. Thus, this paper is about the relationship between formal education and the affects it has on democratic citizenship, moreover it effect on political affiliation. It considers a question that has preoccupied political philosophers, theorists, and political scientists for centuries in understanding party formation and alignment among the masses, especially in Democratic society. To do this, one must consider the ways and the extent to which education influences how knowledgeable citizens are, how attentive they are, how regularly they vote, how active in politics they are beyond the vote, and finally how tolerant they are of the free expression of unpopular political views. Education is
Connecting the Political Dots:
How Level of Education Affects Political Party Affiliation
Marcos D. Madrigal II
Final Draft
Pol. 270.003
Professor Effanbee Ayala
Introduction
The power of America lies within the heart of its people and the ability to have their voices heard. One of the best ways to accomplish this is through an electoral vote. By voting, the people of America or any Democratic country can control the route of the government and the decisions it makes. To decide if those decisions be new and current with society, or kept traditional is why such ability is granted under the 15th amendment. In addition, with voting behaviors determined by Democratic, Republican and Independent parties, it is important to follow the factors that affect one’s decision to identify themselves by certain political party. There are varieties of factors that form these distinct identities such as family, region, racial background, religiosity, and culture while these may be key determining causes, this paper will look at education level more precisely as it tends to be the most internally and externally expansive characteristic that applies to all or most individuals’ as well as their in voting behavior or political identification. Thus, this paper is about the relationship between formal education and the affects it has on democratic citizenship, moreover it effect on political affiliation. It considers a question that has preoccupied political philosophers, theorists, and political scientists for centuries in understanding party formation and alignment among the masses, especially in Democratic society. To do this, one must consider the ways and the extent to which education influences how knowledgeable citizens are, how attentive they are, how regularly they vote, how active in politics they are beyond the vote, and finally how tolerant they are of the free expression of unpopular political views. Education is
References: Foxbusiness.com. 2012. “America’s Best and Worst Educated States.” October 15. http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2012/10/15/americas-best-and-worst-educated-states (accessed February 14, 2013). Galtson, William A Nie, H. Norman, Jane Junn, and Kenneth Stehlick-Barry. 1996. Education and Democratic Citizenship in America. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. UTSA Databases- https://ucat.lib.utsa.edu/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=59087/ (accessed February 19, 2013). Secularright.org. 2009. “ Reality and Reason. Party Affiliation by Wealth and Education.” July 8. http://secularright.org/SR/wordpress/party-affiliation-by-wealth-education-2004-2008/ (accessed February 16, 2013).