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Enhancing Civic Engagement: The Effect of Direct Democracy on Political Participation and Knowledge

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2021

Caroline J. Tolbert ,
Ramona S. McNeal  and
Daniel A. Smith
Caroline J. Tolbert
Affiliation:
Kent State University
Ramona S. McNeal
Affiliation:
Kent State University
Daniel A. Smith
Affiliation:
University of Denver
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Abstract

What is the impact of direct democracy on citizens' political participation and knowledge? Progressive Era reformers and normative theorists have argued that institutional procedures allowing citizens a more direct role in government decision-making will increase civic engagement, broadly defined. Using American National Election Studies data for 1996, 1998, and 2000, we test this hypothesis. Our multivariate analysis suggests that exposure to ballot initiatives increases the probability of voting, stimulates campaign contributions to interest groups, and enhances political knowledge. However, we find that the impact of the initiative process on political participation and knowledge varies with electoral context.

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Other
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State Politics & Policy Quarterly , Volume 3 , Issue 1 , March 2003 , pp. 23 - 41
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 The American Political Science Association

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