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
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