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CONTACT: Ashley Berke Kristen Cambell National Constitution Center National Conference on Citizenship 215.409.6693 202-729-8038 [email protected] [email protected]
AS PRIMARY APPROACHES PENNSYLVANIA’S CIVIC HEALTH INDEX
REVEALS POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT DEFICIT
Pennsylvanians talk frequently…. but not about politics
Pennsylvanians score high on joining community groups, but low on political participation
Philadelphia, PA (March 15, 2012) – As Pennsylvania’s pivotal primary election nears, a
new Census-based report reveals that Pennsylvania citizens are less politically engaged
than citizens in other parts of the country. Released today by the National Constitution
Center, the state’s second annual Civic Health Index ranks Pennsylvania last in the
nation in the percentage of citizens who talk frequently about politics with friends and
family.
The Pennsylvania Civic Health Index was produced in partnership between NCoC (the
National Conference on Citizenship), the National Constitution Center and the Center for
Democratic Deliberation at the Pennsylvania State University. The comprehensive
report provides a measure of civic habits such as voting, volunteering, community
connectedness and many other indicators, which can collectively capture different levels
of participation in our democracy. The report combines these individual measures of
civic health into three composite measures: political action, social connectedness and
public work (i.e. attending meetings and working with neighbors to fix community
problems). The report was authored by Professor J. Michael Hogan and Mark Hlavacik
of Pennsylvania State University.
“The Pennsylvania Civic Health Index highlights the strong fabric of community and
family life across the state, but also shines light on the need to provide more meaningful
pathways to civic participation in the public square,” says David B. Smith, Executive
Director of NCoC.
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Pennsylvania ranked in the lowest third of states in virtually all measures of political
action in this year’s assessment. One indicator of civic health where Pennsylvania
showed a deep decline: the frequency with which citizens discuss politics with their
family and friends. Only 20.9% of Pennsylvanians talked frequently about politics in
2010, ranking 50th in the nation. This is down significantly from 34.7% in last year’s
report.
In addition, Pennsylvania lags behind the rest of the nation’s voter turnout rate, a trend
that has held true in most of the last ten presidential elections. The Commonwealth also
falls behind in voter registration rates.
Indicator PA National PA’s National Ranking Discussing politics 20.9% 26.0% 50th Voter turnout 43.9% 45.5% 35th Voter registration 64.6 % 65.1% 33rd
Other interesting findings show that:
African Americans are the most politically engaged group throughout the
Commonwealth, with 64% reporting at least one political action.
68% of Pennsylvanians over age 65 report at least one political action, as
compared to less than one third of Pennsylvanians ages 18-24.
Education is the best predictor of political action in Pennsylvania, with 79% of
college graduates engaging in at least one political act, as compared to only 36%
of adults without high school diplomas.
On measures of social connectedness and public work, Pennsylvania saw much better
results. Though Pennsylvanians are reluctant to talk about politics with family and
friends, 45.4% of residents (compared to 42.3% nationally) talk frequently with neighbors
about other subjects, ranking 15th in the nation. Despite low rates of political
participation, Pennsylvania ranked 17th in the nation on group participation, with 37.1%
of residents (compared to 33.3% nationally) belonging to or participating in some sort of
community organization.
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“As the birthplace of America’s democracy, Pennsylvania has an unparalleled tradition of
civic leadership,” said Governor Tom Corbett. “The Civic Health Index reminds us of our
roots and challenges us to heed the call of active citizenship today. Our democracy
works best when Pennsylvanians stay informed and involved.”
“This year’s Civic Health Index calls for more attention to political engagement by all
Pennsylvanians during a pivotal election year,” said National Constitution Center
President and CEO David Eisner. “As the National Constitution Center joins the nation
in commemorating the 225th anniversary of the Constitution, this report challenges all
Americans to build on our strengths and find new ways of inspiring active citizenship.
Here at the Center, we will continue to educate and empower citizens to engage in our
democracy.”
About the Civic Health Index
The 2011 Pennsylvania Civic Health Index Report is linked to a national initiative of the
National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC), an organization chartered by Congress that
began publishing America’s Civic Health Index in 2006. In 2008, NCoC began
partnering with local institutions to produce state-level reports. In 2009, NCoC was
incorporated into the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, and directed to expand
the civic health assessment in partnership with the Corporation for National and
Community Service and the U.S. Census Bureau. The NCoC Civic Health Index is
designed to assess ways that everyday citizens take part in civic life – through political
activity, service, charitable giving, social connectedness, and access to information and
current events. Pennsylvania is part of NCoC’s growing coalition of 25 states and cities
developing more localized assessments of their community’s civic health. The National
Constitution Center, in partnership with the Center for Democratic Deliberation at Penn
State, analyzes and disseminates the results for Pennsylvania.
The 2011 Pennsylvania Civic Health Index is available for download at
www.constitutioncenter.org and www.ncoc.net/PACHI2011.
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About NCoC (the National Conference on Citizenship)
At the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC), we believe everyone has the power
to make a difference in how their community and country thrive. We are a dynamic,
nonpartisan nonprofit working at the forefront of our nation’s civic life. We continuously
explore what shapes today’s citizenry, define the evolving role of the individual in our
democracy, and uncover ways to motivate greater participation. Through our events,
research, and reports, NCoC expands our nation’s contemporary understanding of what
it means to be a citizen. We seek new ideas and approaches for creating greater civic
health and vitality throughout the United States. More information can be found at
www.NCoC.net.
About the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center is the first and only nonprofit, nonpartisan institution
devoted to the most powerful vision of freedom ever expressed: the U.S. Constitution.
Located on Independence Mall in Historic Philadelphia, the birthplace of American
freedom, the Center illuminates constitutional ideals and inspires active citizenship
through a state-of-the-art museum experience, including hundreds of interactive exhibits,
films and rare artifacts; must-see feature exhibitions; the internationally acclaimed, 360-
degree theatrical production Freedom Rising; and the iconic Signers' Hall, where visitors
can sign the Constitution alongside 42 life-size, bronze statues of the Founding Fathers.
As America's forum for constitutional dialogue, the Center engages diverse,
distinguished leaders of government, public policy, journalism and scholarship in timely
public discussions and debates. The Center also houses the Annenberg Center for
Education and Outreach, the national hub for constitutional education, which offers
cutting-edge civic learning resources both onsite and online. Freedom is calling.
Answer it at the National Constitution Center. For more information, call 215.409.6700
or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.
About the Center for Democratic Deliberation
The Center for Democratic Deliberation at Penn State University was founded in 2006 as
a nonpartisan, interdisciplinary center for research, teaching and outreach on issues of
civic engagement and democratic deliberation. It is concerned with two of the most
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basic requirements of a healthy participatory democracy: 1) a citizenry with the
knowledge and communicative skills necessary for engaged democratic citizenship; and
2) a culture of vibrant, informed deliberation, where citizens discuss, debate and render
collective decisions on matter of public importance. More information can be found at
http://cdd.la.psu.edu/.
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