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