Post on 12-Jan-2016
Characteristics of a Democracy
2 Different Forms of Democracy
A small tribe or village The United States
Direct Democracy
Citizens, WITHOUT elected public
officials, make public decisions.
Representative Democracy
Citizens elect officials to make political
decisions, formulate laws, and administer
programs for the public good.
Characteristics of a Democracy
CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY CIVIC DUTIES
Things that we should do but not things we have to do, like pick up a piece of trash in
a park or vote.
Civic duties are things we have to do in our country, such as get
an education and obeying the laws of
the government.
• The belief that a government exists only with the consent of the governed (the
people).
• Part of the Social Contract Theory
Popular Consent
• The right of a society to govern itself.
• Elections and representative government.
Popular Sovereignty
• Democracies recognize government at all levels (national, regional, and local) &
makes the citizens a part of all.
• Majority rule: when the greater number agree
Majority Rule
Individual Rights: A society is free when it secures man’s moral rights to life, liberty,
property and the pursuit of happiness.
Basic human rights also give citizens equal protection under law, and the opportunity to organize and participate fully in the political,
economic, and cultural life of society.
Individual Rights
Equality: All members of a democracy wield equal power.
Equality
Personal liberty: Government cannot tell you how to live your life.
Personal Liberty
Democracies conduct regular free and fair elections open to citizens of voting age.
Free & Fair Elections
Democracies offer their voting citizens a choice of political parties
Political Parties & Elected Representatives
Democratic societies are committed to the values of tolerance, cooperation, and
compromise.
Values