3.5b Power by the Many

To some extent, the United States uses a pluralist model of power. A pluralist model of power distribution means that many distinct groups, organizations, and institutions have access to power. No group dominates or has all the power. The pluralist model suggests that because power is distributed among many groups and comes from diverse sources, this contributes to stability. Furthermore, under democratic principles, these groups and institutions can hold other groups, organizations, and institutions accountable for their actions.

For instance, some citizens have voting rights in democratic societies. The people then have the power to elect their leaders, vote on amendments to state constitutions, and take part in other forms of civic engagement. Despite having the right to participate, on average, only 58% of eligible voters have voted in each U.S. presidential election since 1980 (The American Presidency Project, 2025). The average has improved slightly to 61% in elections since 2004.

Photo 3.17

Voting Is One Way That Power Is Shared

Who votes matters because politicians serve the interests of the people who vote in elections. Older voters are more likely to vote Republican and are much more likely to vote than younger voters (Hartig et al., 2025). As a result, politicians focus on issues important to older voters, such as Social Security, rather than issues important to younger voters, like college affordability or childcare needs.

Because political participation in the form of voting varies among sociodemographic groups (such as race, gender, and age), politicians tend to represent and advocate for the issues important to the people who vote. As a result, groups with higher voter participation gain more political power overall. Figure 3.1 provides instructions on how to register to vote in the United States.