September 11, 2012
Democracy
Ordinary people want to rule
themselves and are capable of
doing so.
Review Question: Discuss two reasons why the
framers created a bicameral legislature?
Objective: Students will be able to understand the
basic foundations and definitions of Democracy
Democracy
• DIRECT VS. INDIRECT DEMOCRACY
– REPUBLIC
– US
– PRO/CON FOR EACH
Fundamental Principles of
Representative Democracy
1) Popular Sovereignty
• Power of People
• AUTHORITY=people.
How to recognize popular
sovereignty?
a) Government Policies reflect
the wishes of the people
• Government does = what the people want
it to do.
• Do politician always do what we want?
– When is this necessary?
b) Government Leaders are
elected-SMSR
c) Elections are Free and Fair
• No coercion of voters
• Election rules must not favor
• Ballots must be accurately counted.
d) People must participate in
the political process!•
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Kinds of Participation:
?
?
?
?
5?
e) High Quality information is
available-From where??
• Access to accurate political information.
• If True or unbiased informationpopular
sovereignty
f) The majority rules!
Fundamental Principle…#2)
Political Equality
• (Bill Gates vs. Mr. Hankel)
• 14th Amendment--“equal protection
clause”--
3) Political Liberty
• Basic freedoms
– WHAT ARE SOME OF THESE
FREEDOMS?
– 1.
– 2.
– 3.
– 4.
Objections to Majoritarian
Representative Democracy
Why democracy is a bad idea!
1) “Majority Tyranny” threatens liberty
suppression of the rights of the minority by the majority
• Foundersprevent majority tyranny
• EXAMPLES?
2) The people are irrational and
incompetent
• Americans do not care much about politics
1. Poorly informed, unstable in their views, a
2. Not much interest in participating in the
political process.