Post on 04-Jan-2016
Characteristics of Democracy
DEMOCRACY
Majority
ruleGovt.
by and forthe people
Rights of the individual protected
Elected representatives carry out the people’s willFreedom
Everyone equal under the law
DEMOCRACY IS ….
a system of government in which the people rule either directly or through elected
representatives
American Democracy:Basic Ideals & Principles
I: Popular Consent (popular sovereignty)
II: Respect for the Individual
III: Equality of Opportunity
IV: Personal Liberty
V: Rule of Law
American Democracy:Basic Ideals & Principles
I: Popular Consent (popular sovereignty)
government derives its power from the consent of the people
American Democracy:Basic Ideals & Principles
II: Respect for the Individual each person has the right to
reach their own potential all entitled to “certain
unalienable rights”
American Democracy:Basic Ideals & Principles
III: Equality of Opportunity “all men are created equal” What kinds of equality
should the government guarantee? Political? Economic? Social?
American Democracy:Basic Ideals & Principles
IV: Personal Liberty “life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness” self-determination
American Democracy:Basic Ideals & Principles
V: Rule of Law “a government of laws and
not of men” safeguard of liberty
Direct (Pure) Democracy
A form of democracy inwhich the people as awhole make directdecisions, rather thanhaving those decisionsmade for them byelectedrepresentatives
Examples of Direct Democracy
referendum - the practice of submitting a law to a popular vote at election time. The law may be proposed by a voter's initiative or by the legislature