Levels of the Government
Democracy
Principles of American
Democracy
Many levels of government may exist within a single
country
Each level has authority over a different group of people
National Government
• Highest
level in the United States
• Located=Nation’s Capital= Washington D.C.
• Makes and enforces laws for the entire
country
State Government
• Decides matters for the people within that state
Local Government
• Closest to American citizens
•Includes counties, cities, and towns
Student Government
Democratic Government
Dictatorship= government
controlled by one person or
a small group of people.
Democracy= Citizens share in
governing and being
governed. United States has
this form of government in
which people rule.
Democracy began over 2,500 years ago in Athens,
Greece.
Every citizen of Athens had the right and responsibility
to participate in the city’s government and all the
citizens had equal vote—Direct Democracy.
Direct Democracy- all citizens met to debate
government matters and vote firsthand.
Would direct
democracies work in
most countries today?
Why or why not?
Direct democracy would not
work in most countries today
because of the large size
and
large populations.
Many countries are
representative democraciescitizens choose a smaller
group to represent them,
make laws, and govern on
their behalf, but remain the
source of the government’s
authority.
The United States is the oldest representative
democracy in the world.
225 years (+) - Americans have elected presidents,
members of Congress and other leaders to speak for
them.
Citizens express their views in person, over the
phone, by e-mail or regular “snail” mail, and through
public opinion polls and political groups
“Government of the people, by the people,
for the people.”
– Abraham Lincoln
1) Power of the government
comes from the citizens.
2) Americans run their government
through their representatives.
3) The purpose of the government is to
make the United States a better place for
those who live there.
Democratic governments exist for the people= all
democratic countries have free, fair and competitive
elections.
Through the election process, people have
the chance to choose their leaders and voice
their opinions on various issues.
What makes
an election
fair and
free?
1)Everyone’s vote must carry that same weight.
* “One person, one vote”
2) All candidates have the right to express their
views freely to the public.
* Citizens are free to support candidates or
issues.
* Voting rules=age, citizenship, residency
3) Citizens may vote freely by secret ballot,
without fearing punishment for their voting
decisions
Competitive elections and competing political parties are an
important element in democracies.
*Political Party- a group of
individuals with broad,
common interests who
organize to support
candidates for office and
determine public policy.
Competing political parties
offer voters a choice
among candidates
Democracy= free to develop own capacities
* The government works to promote equality
and all people have an equal opportunity to develop their
talents.
The Loudoun County School Board is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of
the School Board to conform to the laws of the United States and not discriminate
against qualified applicants or employees on the basis of their race, color, sex,
pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, marital status, age, religion, national
origin, disability, or genetic information. Issues regarding non-discrimination should be
directed to the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Services, Loudoun County Public
Schools, 21000 Education Court, Ashburn, VA 20148, phone: (571) 252-1100, Fax: (571)
252-1663.
Majority rule- (for when
you can’t please all the
people, all the time)
* Citizens agree that
when differences of
opinion arise, we will
abide by what most people
want.
* We insist on respect
for the rights of those in
the minority.
Fundamental Principles of American Democracy
Principle
Rule of Law
Limited Government
Consent of the
governed
Description
All people, including those who govern, are bound by the law.
Government is not all-powerful-it may do only those things that
people have given it the power to do.
American citizens are the source of all governmental power
Individual Rights
In the American democracy, individual rights are protected by the
government
Representative
Government
People elect government leaders to make the laws and govern on
their behalf