Minority Representation and Political Efficacy in Public Meetings

Anne R. Williamson and Michael J. Scicchitano

Social Science Quarterly, 2015, vol. 96, issue 2, 576-587

Abstract: type="main">

The objective of this article is to address a chief criticism of public meetings in democratic society, a lack of minority representation. Further, it explores the issue of political efficacy and the extent to which it may differ between minority and nonminority citizens.

These issues are analyzed through logistic and multiple regression models applied to the results of a random-sample telephone survey administered across the United States (N = 601).

Results indicate that members of one minority group, African Americans, are more likely to attend public meetings than whites. Further, no statistically significant differences between whites and Hispanics or other-race individuals were found. African Americans also reported higher levels of political efficacy than whites, while no statistically significant difference was found between whites and Hispanics or other-race individuals for this measure.

Thus, public meetings are not necessarily fraught with a lack of minority representation, nor do minorities necessarily suffer from lower levels of political efficacy than whites. Findings indicate a potential for minority representation in public meetings. Thus, rather than dismissing public meetings as legally required rituals, there is reason to improve the methods used to mobilize attendance and facilitate two-way communication between citizens and government.

Date: 2015
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