[1] The Crick Report defines political literacy as people "learning about and how to make themselves effective in public life through knowledge, skills and value".
[3]: 321 It includes an understanding of how government works and of the important issues facing society, as well as the critical thinking skills to evaluate different points of view.
[2]: 151 There are three major theories about political literacy:[3] "Participating in a democratic government" includes the following:[citation needed] Presumptions in the American Political System include:[citation needed] The "Rule of Law" restricts the arbitrary exercise of power by subordinating it to well-defined and established laws.
It means giving the right to vote to all adult citizens, regardless of wealth, income, gender, social status, race, ethnicity, or any other restriction, subject only to relatively minor exceptions.
However, some people and politicians prefer to exploit voter ignorance and deficiencies for personal gain at the expense of better governance.