[20050112]RS20206_亚太裔美国人在选任政府中的政治参与和代表权.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS20206Updated January 12, 2005Asian Pacific American Political Participationand Representation in Elective OfficeKevin ColemanAnalyst in American National GovernmentGovernment and Finance DivisionSummaryAs one of the fastest growing segments of the population, Asian Pacific Americans(APAs) have seemed to be on the verge of greater political activity. As yet, the steepincrease in the Asian Pacific American population during the last 35 years has notresulted in a corresponding increase in the level of political participation. Voter turnoutfor Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) has lagged behind that of whites and blacks, whileAsian Pacific American and Hispanic turnout rates are similar (45% for Hispanics in the2000 election compared with 43% for Asian Pacific Americans; data for 2004 are notyet available from the Census Bureau).Asian immigration to the United States began in the 1840s, and continued throughoutthe settlement of western and Pacific coast states. Most early immigrants were Chineselaborers whose destinations were the railroads and the mining camps that transf