The paper examines the effects of pre-adult socialization on adult political activity. Four causal models are evaluated. Three models assess the direct and indirect effects of parental characteristics: socioeconomic status, level of political activity, and level of non-political (organizational) activity. The fourth model assesses the impact of adolescent involvement in high school activities. The two samples, one in 1965 and the other in 1973, consist of over 1200 students and their parents. Results indicate that taken individually each pathway to participation has an effect. When the four models are combined into a single model, all remain important except the one denoting parent involvement in non-political activities. The combined model also reveals the crucial role of civic orientations in converting pre-adult experiences into later participation. The conclusion is that socialization influences must be considered in explaining political participation. (Author/KC)