Democracy
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Democracy
Basic Definition:
System of selecting policymakers
and of organizing government
so that policy represents and responds
to the public’s preferences
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Democracy
Famous Quote about America:
Government of the people,
by the people,
and for the people
From?
Gettysburg Address
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Traditional Democratic Theory
Key principles
that specify how governmental decisions
are made in a Democracy
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Traditional Democratic Theory
According to political scientist
Robert Dahl (Yale)
The ideal democratic process
should satisfy 5 criteria
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Traditional Theory ~ 5 Criteria
(1) Equality in Voting
“ One person, One vote”
Does not have to be . . .
Universal
But must be . . .
Representative
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Traditional Theory ~ 5 Criteria
(2) Effective Participation
Citizens must have
Adequate and Equal opportunities
to express their preferences
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Traditional Theory ~ 5 Criteria
(3) Enlightened Understanding
If one group monopolizes
Marketplace of ideas
and distorts information,
Freedom of Speech Citizens cannot truly
understand
& Press
are essential
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Traditional Theory ~ 5 Criteria
(4) Citizen Control of the Agenda
Collective right to control the government’s
Policy Agenda
the issues that attract the attention
of public officials and other people
involved in politics at any given time
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Traditional Theory ~ 5 Criteria
(4) Citizen Control of the Agenda
Problem:
If one group has influence
beyond its numbers (of people represented)
Citizen control of the Agenda
will be distorted
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Traditional Theory ~ 5 Criteria
(5) Inclusion
Government must include
and extend rights to All.
Citizenship must be open to all within a nation
if it is to call itself Democratic.
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Fundamental Principles
MAJORITY RULE
When choosing among alternative policies
The desires of the Majority
should be respected
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Fundamental Principles
MINORITY RIGHTS
The Majority should not be able to do
ANYTHING it wants
Especially if what it wants to do
seriously infringes on the rights of the Minority
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Fundamental Principles
REPRESENTATION
In a LARGE SOCIETY
Direct political involvement by all is impossible.
Solution?
Use of people to represent others
in governmental decision making.
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Contemporary Theories
An Important & Basic Question
WHO REALLY GOVERNS?
3 Contemporary Theories . . .
* Pluralist
* Elite & Class
* Hyperpluralism
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Pluralist Theory
Groups with shared interests
influence public policy by pushing for decisions
that respond to their concerns.
Essentially optimistic that the “public interest”
will eventually prevail through a process
of bargaining and compromise.
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Pluralist Theory
“all active and legitimate groups in the
population can make themselves heard
at some crucial stage in the process”
We are a “nation of joiners”
Robert Dahl
Alexis de Tocqueville
1830’s
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Pluralist Theory
Have Americans reduced this tendency
to be “joiners” & members of groups?
Robert Putnam (Harvard)
2000
Technology has isolated people.
We are more involved in
self-defined ways instead of in groups
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Elite & Class Theory
Society is divided along class lines
Upper class elite will hold significant power
Wealth is the basis of this power
The wealthy can afford to
finance election campaigns
& control key institutions such as corporations
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Elite & Class Theory
“The people who own the country
ought to govern it”
John Jay
1st Chief Justice
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Elite & Class Theory
“Many of our rich men have not been content
with equal protection and equal benefits,
but have besought us to make them richer
by act of Congress”
Andrew Jackson
7th President
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Elite & Class Theory
“The 1980’s were the triumph of upper
America – an ostentatious celebration of
wealth, the political ascendancy of the
richest third of the population, and a
glorification of capitalism, free markets and
finance”.
Kevin Phillips
Nixon strategist
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Hyperpluralism
Groups are so strong that
Government is weakened
Resulting in an extreme form of Pluralism
In a sense, groups treat government as
their servant
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Hyperpluralism
Groups push for their own policies
at whichever level and branch of government
may result in policies they favor
Create “battlegrounds” at
National, State & Local levels
in Executive, Legislative, & Judicial branches
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy
Hyperpluralism
Governments respond to all groups
Creating policies that are
confusing, contradictory & muddled . . .
The “public interest” is rarely well served
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy