roots of democracy read: democracy or a republic what is the author’s viewpoint about our...
TRANSCRIPT
Roots of Democracy
Read: Democracy or a Republic
What is the author’s viewpoint about our government? Are there any point that you disagree with? Underline the
arguments for the type of government he believes we have.
Democracy is . .
•A system of government in which citizens:
•Vote for their leaders
•Have specific rights and responsibilities
Democracy came from many sources:
The ancient Greeks :In Athens, citizens voting for their leaders became common
“Civic virtue” became important to many philosophers.
The ancient Romans :
Developed the “rule of law” common to all citizens throughout the empire
Developed advanced forms of representative government, before evolving in to a dictatorship.
The Bible:
Hebrew prophets developed the idea of all people being equal, created in the image of God.
The idea caring for the weaker members of society.
The Magna Carta
British Document
King John forced to recognize his power was limited by the Barons
First step toward limited government
English Bill of Rights
Made Parliament stronger than King or Queen
Protected rights to trial by jury
Outlawed cruel and unusual punishment
Individual Rights
Mayflower Compact
Pilgrims signed it
Agreed to follow all laws made by elected leaders
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
Limited powers of colony government
Powers not given to colony given to towns
Similar to federalism
House of Burgesses
Founded at Jamestown in 1619
First representative body in the English colonies
Served as a model for other colonies
Two types of democracyDirect democracy
Power vested directly in the people
• All citizens take part in each decision made
• Majority rule, no protection for minority
Indirect democracyCitizens elect representatives to make decisions for them
• This is also referred to as a Republic
Definition of a republic: power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by
representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them. Protection by rule of law.
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Key elements of Democracy:
1. Citizen Involvement
2. System of Representation
3. Rule of Law
4. Electoral System
5. Equality
6. Freedom, Liberty, and Rights
7. Education
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1) Citizen Involvement Direct Democracy: Citizens take part personally in deliberations and vote on issues. Citizens debate and vote on all laws.
Representative Democracy: Citizens choose (elect) other citizens to debate and pass on laws.
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Participation
1. Voting.
2. Political parties and/or interest groups.
3. Political meetings or public hearings, discussing politics, calling your representative.
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Elitist theories of democracy
Proponents Say: • Elites (usually “experts” but not necessarily)
should rule.• Citizens choose between elite proposals.• Result is a smoothly running and efficient
government and society.• Politics is too complex for average citizens to
be able to create good policy.
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Elitist theories of democracy
Opponents Say:
• Efficiency is not as important as citizen influence on policy making.
• Average citizen is capable of understanding the complexity of politics.
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Pluralism
Proponents Say:
• Competing interest groups check each other’s power none become too strong.
• Protects citizens from centralized power.
• Recognizes, Protects, and Promotes diversity of interests within society.
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Pluralism
Opponents Say:
• Overriding interest remains: stay in power!
• Does not protect freedom unless freedom is in the interest of the powerful.
• It maintains the status quo does not provide opportunity to change an unjust system.
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Corporatism
Proponents Say:
• Interest groups are integrated into the government.
• More harmonious interactions within society.
• Interest groups help government make policy that reflects the common good and interests of the society.
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Corporatism
Increases the power of unelected people
The concept is irrevocably tainted by Fascism.
Reduces citizen involvement
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The “Iron Triangle”Department of
Labor
(Government)
Business Organizations
Unions
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Participatory Democracy Low voter turnout should not be “rationalized.”
Advocate “Citizen Law Makers” People are more likely to follow laws they help make.
If we must have representative democracy then we must create incentives for more participation.
For example:
1. Term limits
2. Recall Elections
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Participatory Democracy
Opponents Say:Impractical in large republics
Policies will less often be made by experts
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2) A system of Representation
• Citizens delegate power to representatives to act for them.
Based upon the 2010 census there is one representative for every 710,767 citizens.
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Should representatives simply reflect the interests of its constituency or should they be independent agents?
Edmund Burke (1729-1797): representatives are independent agents.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778): “Any law which the people have not ratified in person is null, it is not a law.”
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3) Rule of Law
Law is supreme,
nobody is above the law, even those who make law
against divine right
doctrinepopular sovereignty—all power emanates from the people.
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4) The Electoral system
Conflict over procedure of choosing representatives
Electoral process begins with the selection of candidates—But how does one become a candidate?
Importance of access to information.
Result of not voting is the transference of political power to others.
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Majority Rule
%50 + 1
What happened in the 1992 election?
US system is “Winner take all” or “first past the post”.
Result: Minority view is not represented
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In Europe
Proportional representation
Seats are allocated in the legislature on the basis of percentage of votes cast for party A=%35 B = %30 C= %25 D = %10.
Governments are formed in coalition with other parties in order to make %50 + 1.
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Minority Voice
Some rights can’t be taken away by the majority.
In the USA, government cannot take rights away without 2/3rd house and senate and ¾ of state legislative
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5) Equality
Definition: sameness in relevant aspects
Disagreement over definition:
A. political equality
B. equality before the law
C. equality of opportunity
D. economic equality
E. equality of respect or social equality;
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Natural Rights and Civil Rights:
Natural Rights: Rights a person has a human being
Civil Rights: Rights derived from government.
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How do we limit Government?
Frequent elections
Watch dogs
Civil disobedience
Protest
Revolution
Compare the US and Japan
Look at all of the information about Japan and the United States
In pairs answer the questions about the democracy in the two countries