WHAT IS DEMOCRACY?

1. WHAT IS DEMOCRACY?

2. 11.) Democracy is a system of government in which the people rule either directly, or through elected representatives.. “A democracy can be either director representative; in a direct democracy, the citizens as a whole form a governing body and vote directly on each issue. In a representative democracy the citizens elect representatives from among themselves.”

3. 12.) A Republicis a system where laws are made by representatives chosen the people and must comply with a constitution which specifically protects the rights of the minority from the will of the majority. “In both a republic and a democracy, citizens are empowered to participate in a representational political system. They elect people to represent and protect their interests in how the government functions. In a pure democracy, laws are made directly by the voting majority leaving the rights of the minority largely unprotected, whereas a republic emphasizes individual freedom in the form of civil liberties to protect citizens from government abuses of power.

4. Define “Democracy”, “Republic”, and describe our American Democratic Republic • Explain the different types of democracy. • What are some characteristics of democracy?

5. Objective • Students will be able to explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democratic republicanism by completing a graphic organizer.

6. DEMOCRACY • a system of government in which the people rule either directly, or through elected representatives. It is based on majority rule.

7. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC • a system of government in which the people INFLUENCE THE FORMATION OF LAWS either directly, or through elected representatives. It is based on RULE OF LAW, but still contains elements of democracy such as referendum and recall.

8. FILM CLIP: IS AMERICA A DEMOCRACY? YouTube Link

9. PAIR ACTIVITY • With your partner read your textbook about the Basic Concepts of Democracy (p.27-30) and complete the corresponding worksheet. • For Q#2, finish this quote from, p. 29: “The only satisfactory device that democracy knows... ” (copy the remainder of the paragraph)

10. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICANISM The American concept of democratic republic rests on these basic notions: (1) A recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person; (2) A respect for the equality of all persons; (3) A faith in majority rule and an insistence upon minority rights; (4) An acceptance of the necessity of compromise; and (5) An insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom.

11. WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL • every individual has the potential for common sense, rationality and fairness and are entitled to "certain unalienable rights” • “unalienable rights” based on John Locke’s “life, liberty and propety”

12. EQUALITY OF ALL PERSONS • "All men are created equal," • But what kind of equality? Economic, political, legal, social?   • All men are entitled to: • 1. equality of opportunity • 2. equality before the law

13. MAJORITY RULE, MINORITY RIGHTS • The will of the people and not the dictate of the ruling few determines public policy. • The majority must always be willing to listen to a minority’s argument, to hear its objections, to bear it’s criticisms, and to welcome suggestions.

14. NECESSITY OF COMPROMISE • In a democracy compromise is used to blend and adjust competing views and interests. • Compromise is a process of achieving majority agreement.

15. INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM • "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" and the right of individuals to self-determination.   • Democratic republicanism does not allow complete individual freedom… our freedom is restrained by the rights of others

16. Describe the relationship between the rights of the individual and the rights of the overall society in a Democratic Republic.

17. FORMS OF DEMOCRACY • direct or pure democracy - a form of democracy in which the people as a whole make direct decisions, rather than have those decisions made for them by elected representatives. • 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. • recall- A procedure whereby the voters can vote to remove an elected official from office.

18. FORMS OF DEMOCRACY • representative democracy – • A political system in which leaders and representatives acquire political power by means of a competitive struggle for the people's vote.   • Critical Thinking: This is one of the democratic elements of the United States’ republic.

19. WHICH ONE IS IT? Direct or Representative Democracy

20. ARIZ. REFERENDUM DRIVES TARGETING NEW LAW DROPPED • PHOENIX -- The two proposed referendum drives challenging Arizona's new sweeping law targeting illegal immigration are being abandoned, organizers said Monday. • Andrew Chavez, a professional petition circulator involved in one of the efforts, said its backers pulled the plug after concluding they might not be able to time their petition filings in such a way as to put the law on hold.

21. ARIZ. REFERENDUM DRIVES TARGETING NEW LAW DROPPED • PHOENIX -- The two proposed referendum drives challenging Arizona's new sweeping law targeting illegal immigration are being abandoned, organizers said Monday. • Andrew Chavez, a professional petition circulator involved in one of the efforts, said its backers pulled the plug after concluding they might not be able to time their petition filings in such a way as to put the law on hold. Direct

23. Representative

25. Direct

26. CONGRESS

27. CONGRESS Representative