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The characteristics of political activists are considered as explanatory variables for the wide gap between strong public support for school prayer & lack of support in Congress. Analysis of data from questionnaires completed by 2,827 members of various political action committees indicates that activist opinion more nearly matches congressional behavior on school prayer than does public opinion. While many of the same demographic & religious variables explain support for school prayer among activists & the public, ideology appears to be more important among activists. 4 Tables, 1 Figure, 26 References. Modified HA

Extent, location, and sources of support for the Moral Majority among political activists; based on a 1982-83 mail survey of contributors to 60 party, ideological, and interest group political action committees.

United States. Influence of religiosity on party and political action committee contributors.

Political elites are generally reluctant to alter the status quo unless a change will benefit them. Scholars have found that institutions, and the rules governing them, tend to evolve in ways that maintain equilibrium, preserving the status of winners. Are voters--when presented the opportunity--more likely than elites to alter political institutions? Using survey data, the authors explore mass support in the American states for changing how legislative districts are drawn. They find evidence that representational losers at statewide and district levels are more likely to vote for reforms to create nonpartisan redistricting in ballot issue contests, while electoral winners oppose reform. They argue that ordinary voters--like elected officials--may exhibit a similar instrumental rationale, using a self-interested calculus when serving as policy makers for a day. Beyond theorizing about conditions under which the mass public might engage in strategic voting, the analysis has implications for practical election reform efforts in the American states. Adapted from the source document.