DEMOCRACY IN THE U.S.
Democracy
 Gov’t by the people
 Two Types
 Direct (How can people participate directly in
government? How can they make laws?)
 Indirect (republic; gov’t derives power from the
people through representation)
 Founders Distrust
Roger Sherman- “People should have little
to do as may be with government”
(Why? What characteristic, in men, were
the founders afraid of?)
Founders Mistrust
 Benjamin Franklin: “There are two
passions which have a powerful
influence on the affairs of men: love of
power and the love of money.”
 Alexander Hamilton: “Men love
power.”
Republic
 Same as indirect
 Solves Problems of direct
 Secures advantages of direct
Democratic Theory
 Majoritarian View
 Leaders influenced by people’s will (What issues
are currently influenced by popular opinion?)
 Elite View
 Minorities Dominate policy making (Politicians?
Corporate Leaders? Military? )
 Pluralist View (“Sometimes you win and…)
 Many groups compete for policy control
 Hyperpluralist View
 Gridlock occurs due to competition of groups
(Tea Party v. Latinos??)
Fundamental Democratic
Values
 Popular Sovereignty (power is vested
w/ people)
 Respect for individual
 Liberty (Civil Liberties; Inalienable
rights)
 Equality (of opportunity)
Fundamental Democratic
Processes
 Free and Fair Elections
 Majority rule w/ minority rights (Rights
such as our civil liberties)
 Freedom of Expression
 Freedom to Assemble/Protest
Fundamental Democratic
Structures
 Federalism (shared power b/w state-federal)
 Separation of Powers (Constitution)
 Checks and Balances (within the framework
of gov’t)
 Constitutionalism (rule by constitutional
government; according to written law)