A comparative study of ethnic minority cohesiveness and distinctiveness in southern state legislatures found that the addition of minority ethnic members to the lower legislative bodies of Texas, South Carolina, and Louisiana has resulted in the formation of the relatively (but not completely) cohesive voting group of minority members. (Author/RM)

Reports data that link media use to knowledge of public affairs and this knowledge to voter behavior in local elections. (FL)

Presents an activities package designed for teachers to use in teaching elementary or secondary students about political processes in an election year. Includes topics such as voting procedures, political parties, political campaigns, issues, and rating the candidates. (CK)

Examines the effect of mass media use on political party loyalty. Invalidates the floating-voter hypothesis which suggests that heavy consumption of political information through the media should be associated with higher levels of party loyalty. (JMF)

Offers advice on how high school and college yearbook staffs can cover elections. Lists 18 coverage ideas. (RL)

Questions whether defeat of propositions to establish paid Martin Luther King holiday in Arizona was example of racism among primarily White senior adult voters of the state. Proposes three models to account for general pattern of election-related behavior and for vote itself: proactive racist; pragmatic self-interest; and fortress mentality.…

Defines and gives examples of consumer ballot initiatives; provides an overview of recent scholarship on ballot propositions; and identifies issues that should be of interest to consumer activists and researchers. (Author/JOW)

Voter apathy is at an all-time high in the United States. Important decisions and policies are being determined through disappointing turnouts at the voting polls. In a democratic society, this is unconscionable! Voter turnout needs to improve, but what part can teachers play, besides voting, in helping to change voter apathy? Today's students…

Over 5.9 million Hispanic citizens voted in the 2000 US presidential election. Numbers like these make candidates take notice. As such, candidates and political parties are doing everything they could to sought the attention of Hispanic voters. In this article, the authors present some of the bills that were introduced by legislatures which…

Policies governing the organization and timing of school elections affect democratic representation in school decision making. Some argue that school board elections should be consolidated with general municipal elections on the grounds that this will increase participation and representation, but little empirical work addresses the consequences…

Designed to provide direction to secondary teachers involved in citizenship education, this guide focuses on citizenship responsibility in electing public officials and on legal obligations of members of a democratic society. The material is divided into nine sections. Introductory letters and acknowledgements are followed by a detailed curriculum…

By state law, the age of majority was lowered to 18 as of 1972. This pamphlet consists of general guidelines for curricula and school programs in response to questions regarding the implications of the new legislation. For example, school districts are requested to re-examine their civics courses in light of new voting age. It is also recommended…

Presents five projects on student voting rights recommended for college students in U.S. government and constitutional law courses. Projects include reading the state's residency law, investigating state and local interpretation of student voting rights, researching the constitutional issues involved in voting rights, and surveying students as to…

Describes a unit on voting conducted by high school seniors for first graders in Bangor, Maine. Lists learning goals for both groups, describing how high school teacher and students collaborated with first-grade teacher to develop the unit and construct teaching aids. Details the unit's components, including a voting game, democracy, voting…

Despite a number of savvy strategies, it was a tough year at the polls for libraries. Both building and operating referenda had the lowest passage rates this decade, with only 52% of capital referenda and 57% of operating referenda finding success. In fact, in the 18 years since Library Journal has been tracking these votes, 2005 had the lowest…