Mr. Maurer
Fundamental Principles of Government
Fundamental Principle #3 - Representative Democracy or Republican Government
Democracies fall into two basic categories: direct democracy and representative
democracy. In a direct democracy, all citizens can participate in making public decisions,
like in a town meeting. This system works with a relatively small number of people, like a
town, but it is not practical in a large nation. We simply cannot take a direct vote of all the
people every time our government needs to make a decision or a law. Consequently, we do not
have a direct democracy here in the United States. Occasionally, however, we do use
elements of direct democracy in our system of government. States and local governments may
put “ballot initiatives,” “referenda,” or “propositions” on their ballots on election day. These are
all ways in which voters get a chance to approve a new law or vote it down. You might
remember Proposition 8 in 2008, when voters in California decided not to allow same-sex
marriage in that state.
Still, the most common form of democracy in the world today is representative
democracy, in which citizens elect officials to govern for them. We have a representative
democracy in America. We elect members of Congress (both in the House and the Senate) and
our President and Vice-President to the federal government. We also elect a large number of
state and local officials in Pennsylvania, ranging from the Governor of the state to county
sheriffs.
A representative democracy is also known as a republican government. (That’s why
we pledge allegiance to the flag and to the republic for which it stands. Notice that in this case,
“republican” is not capitalized. If it were capitalized, it would refer to the Republican party,
instead of our form of government. You will study our elected representatives at the federal,
state, and local level throughout this course. Because the people entrust their elected
representatives with the power to govern, frequent, free, and fair elections are absolutely
essential in the proper operation of a republic.
The founding fathers created a representative democracy that really wasn’t very
democratic by today’s standards. When the Constitution went into effect, the only federal
official that individual citizens could choose was their member of the House of Representatives.
No ordinary citizen ever voted for George Washington for President – he was chosen by the
Electoral College. Members of the Electoral College were chosen by their state legislatures.
Each state legislature also chose its state’s two U.S. Senators. As you will learn later, federal
judges and other federal officials are appointed by the President and not chosen by the voters.
This is exactly how our nation’s founders wanted it. They did not trust ordinary citizens
to make wise choices electing their leaders. In fact, the term “democracy” (which meant “rule of
the people”) was something of a dirty word to the founding fathers. They much preferred the
term “republic” in which elected officials would govern. But again, it is important to remember
that only the House of Representatives was chosen by the people. The House was meant to be
the direct representatives of the people in the new federal government. Even members of the
House of Representatives were chosen only by white male property owners. Each state was free
to set its own voting qualifications, and that meant that most women, African-Americans,
American Indians, and white men that did not own property were all unable to vote.
The history of American politics is very much a history of the expansion of democracy in
this country. Since the late 1700s, more and more citizens have been given more and more
power to choose their federal officials. Property restrictions gradually disappeared in the early
1800s. African Americans, women, and adults between the age of 18 and 20 all now enjoy the
Mr. Maurer
Fundamental Principles of Government
right to vote in America. In addition, U.S. Senators are now elected directly by the people of
their state, and are no longer chosen by their state legislatures. The Electoral College still
chooses the President of the United States, but members of the Electoral College are now chosen
by the voters. All of these changes have come in response to historical events and changing
attitudes throughout our history. This lesson will make you familiar with some of these changes.
Representative Democracy Review Questions
1. What are the two types of democracy, and what are the differences between the two?
2. Which of these types is more common in the world today?
3. What officials do Americans elect to the federal (national) government today?
4. What is the difference between “republican” and “Republican?”
5. What events are absolutely necessary for a republic to operate successfully?
6. List three ways that America has become more democratic than it was in the late 1700s.
Mr. Maurer
Fundamental Principles of Government
The Expansion of Democracy throughout American History
Expansion of Democracy Questions:
Use the Internet to find the answers to the following questions:
1. When and how did African Americans get the right to vote in America? (Just list the year and
the Constitutional Amendment or federal law that applies.)
2. What was the Voting Rights Act designed to do? What year was it passed?
3. When was the Constitution changed to allow U.S. Senators to be elected directly by the people
instead of by their state legislatures? What amendment was this?
4. When and how did women get the right to vote in America?
5. When and how did 18, 19, and 20-year olds get the right to vote in America? What major
historical event was occurring when the voting age was lowered to 18? How do you think that
event affected the decision to lower the voting age to 18?
6. When and how did residents of Washington, D.C. get the right to vote for President in
America?
7. What is the overall trend of the events you have identified in Questions 1 – 6?