ABSTRACT
Many studies of the policy process seem to be disconnected from the activities and preferences of individual citizens. This is because most analysis focuses
on policy making undertaken at the group level, with various groups vying for attention, influence, and power. Politics in the United States is primarily a group process, and groups often make their preferences very clear, because they deal regularly with important issues of policy. By contrast, opportunities for individual participation seem to be intermittent, at best. We hold elections for national office every two years, and not every office is up for election every year. Furthermore, even when important issues are on the agenda, most Americans do not vote, although in some presidential elections turnout exceeds 50 percent.
