Democracy & Sovereignty

Democracy and Sovereignty

• Direct democracy vs. Representative democracy

• Popular sovereignty vs. Parliamentary sovereignty

• Opportunities for democratic participation

Definitions

Explain the following terms;a) Direct democracyb) Representative democracyc) Popular sovereigntyd) Parliamentary sovereignty

Direct Democracy

DefinitionA political system whereby the people take part themselves in the running of the country and deciding laws e.g. referendums, public consultation and focus groups.A leader is directly elected.

Representative Democracy

DefinitionA political system whereby representatives elected by the people take control of decision-making, as it is more practical and the representatives are better informed.

Popular Sovereignty

DefinitionThe idea that sovereign power is vested in the people and that those chosen to govern, as trustees of such power, must exercise it in conformity with the general will of the people (public opinion).

Parliamentary Sovereignty

DefinitionParliamentary sovereignty makes Parliament the supreme legal authority which can create or end any law. Generally, the courts cannot overrule its legislation and no Parliament can pass laws that future Parliaments cannot change.

Direct v Representative

• Is the US a direct democracy or a representative democracy?

• Why?

Popular v Parliamentary

• Does the US have popular sovereignty or parliamentary (congressional?) sovereignty?

• Why?

“The concepts of direct democracy and popular sovereignty are more in evidence in the US

political system.”

• Elections to the House of Representatives are every 2 years, using FPTP

• Senators directly elected every 6 years• Election of the president = virtually a direct

election• Judiciary can declare Acts of Congress

unconstitutional• Presidential veto

Design-a-Constitution

• You already have a constitutional framework for the free state of Lordswoodonia from last lesson.

• Now decide what form of democracy and sovereignty should be enshrined in the constitution.

• Think about what institutions, roles, powers and rights would need to be written into the constitution.

Reading/Note Taking

• Chapter 10, p252-254- Presidential and parliamentary systems- Federal and unitary systems