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Gateways to American
Democracy
Citizen Participation
Citizen participation is the heart of a democratic system.
• Because of citizen participation the United States has
achieved the following successes:
– The nation and its institutions are amazingly
stable. The United States has the oldest written
constitution in the world.
– The government has weathered severe economic
crises, a civil war, two world wars, and yet it still
maintains peaceful transitions of power from one
set of leaders to the next.
Successes Continued
– Citizens are able to petition the government and to
criticize it. They can assemble and protest the
government’s policies.
– Americans enjoy substantial freedom and are
protected from the abuse of power by the
government.
– The American economy has created an excellent
standard of living, among the highest in the world.
Problems with American Democracy
Despite many successes, American Democracy still has its
problems.
• Inequality persists, and government is sometimes slow
to respond.
• Even with the election of President Barack Obama in
2008, racial tensions continue to haunt the country
• The imbalance of wealth in this country continues to
grow, with increasing numbers of people living in
poverty
Problems Continued
• The public’s trust in the institutions of government has
eroded in recent years.
• The rate of turnout in our elections is among the lowest
of the major democracies.
• Despite a high level of religious tolerance, there is also
persistent distrust of some religious minorities, such as
Muslims.
What is democracy?
Rule by the people or self-government.
• Citizens hold political authority
What is Majority Rule?
Majority Rule is the idea that a numerical majority of a group
should hold the power to make decisions binding on the
whole group; a simple majority.
• Often associated with “mob rule”, a lack of liberty, and
a lack of order in society.
• “Democracy, while it lasts is more bloody than either
aristocracy or monarchy. Remember, democracy never
lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself.
There is never a democracy that did not commit
suicide.”
-John Adams
The Social Contract
Social contract is a theory that government has only the
authority accorded it by the consent of the governed.
• First proposed by Thomas Hobbes.
• Revised by John Locke.
The Case for Natural Rights
John Locke argues that people had “natural rights.”
• Life
• Liberty
• Property
– These beliefs are later echoed by Thomas Jefferson
in the Declaration of Independence and are central
to the U.S. Constitution.
Is the United States a Democracy?
There is not one single type of democracy.
• Direct Democracy
– Form of democracy in which political power is
exercised directly by citizens.
• Representative Democracy (aka Republic)
– Form of democracy in which citizens elect public
officials to make political decisions and formulate
laws on their behalf.
American Political Culture
Despite attachments to ideologies and parties, American political
culture is still rooted in the concept of individualism.
• Set of beliefs holding that people, and not government, are
responsible for their own well-being
American Political Culture continued
Despite American’s love of individualism, they also believe
strongly in the principle of egalitarianism.
• Egalitarianism is the belief in human equality that disdains
inherited titles of nobility and even inherited wealth
– American political culture is seen as a bit of a dichotomy,
supporting both capitalism and socialism.
Autocracy, Oligarchy and Monarchy
The best way to see how government responds to citizens in a
democracy is to compare it with countries where citizen input
is limited.
• Autocracy is a system of government in which the power to
govern is concentrated in the hands of one individual ruler.
– Saddam Hussein was an autocrat whose power was
derived from oppression of the people.
Oligarchy and Monarchy
• Oligarchy is a system of government in which the power
to govern is concentrated in the hands of a powerful few,
usually wealthy individuals.
• Monarchy is a system of government that assigns power
to a single person who inherits that position and rules
until death.
– In each of these systems, the government keeps
powers until they are overthrown, usually in a military
coup.
– Elections, while sometimes held, are rigged so that
the ruling party or official stays in office.
Democratic Inputs
In a democratic state, the citizens are asked to be actively
engaged in the political process, for the benefit of all.
The Role of Representatives in a
Democracy
Should elected officials act as trustees or delegates?
• A trustee is an elected official who does what they think
best, even if the public disagrees; elections allow the
public to render a judgment on their decisions.
• A delegate is an elected official who does what the public
wants and does not exercise independent judgment.
- In reality, most elected officials act as both trustee and
delegate, depending on the issue before them.
The Demands of Democratic
Citizenship
Why should a person participate in a democratic society?
• Self-interest
– Concern for one’s own advantage and well-being. If you
don’t participate in our democracy, how can you expect
your rights and interests to be reflected in public policy?
• Civic interest
– Concern for the well-being of society and the nation as a
whole. Think of this as a sense of duty, to do what is right
for your country and your fellow citizens. If we want this
experiment that is American democracy to succeed, then it
is up to all of us to play an active role.
Policy Issues That Matter
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Terrorism and Civil Liberties
Social Security and Entitlement Programs
Immigration and Diversity
Education
Social Security & Entitlement Programs
Immigration and Diversity:
The Changing Ethnic Composition of America
Education:
Increasing Costs of Education
Focus Questions
• Does American democracy work? How can you evaluate it?
• How democratic was the constitutional system of 1787? How
democratic is the United States today?
• What are the pros and cons of a system in which state
governments and a national government share power?
• What should be the balance between liberty and order? How
has the U.S. government balanced the two? What liberty vs.
order questions do citizens face today?
• Why is equality important in a democracy? What role does, or
should, government play in ensuring equality? What kinds of
equality can, or should, government ensure? What should be
the balance between equality and liberty?