Democracy

1. Democracy AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

2. Basic Definition: • System of selecting policymakers • and of organizing government • so that policy represents and responds • to the public’s preferences Democracy AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

3. Famous Quote about America: • Government of the people, • by the people, • and for the people • From? • Gettysburg Address Democracy AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

4. Key principles • that specify how governmental decisions • are made in a Democracy Traditional Democratic Theory AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

5. According to political scientist • Robert Dahl (Yale) • The ideal democratic process • should satisfy 5 criteria Traditional Democratic Theory AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

6. (1) Equality in Voting “ One person, One vote” Does not have to be . . . Universal But must be . . . Representative Traditional Theory ~ 5 Criteria AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

7. (2) Effective Participation Citizens must have Adequate and Equal opportunities to express their preferences Traditional Theory ~ 5 Criteria AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

8. (3) Enlightened Understanding Marketplace of ideas Freedom of Speech & Press are essential Traditional Theory ~ 5 Criteria If one group monopolizes and distorts information, Citizens cannot truly understand AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

9. (4) Citizen Control of the Agenda Collective right to control the government’s Policy Agenda the issues that attract the attention of public officials and other people involved in politics at any given time Traditional Theory ~ 5 Criteria AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

10. (4) Citizen Control of the Agenda Problem: If one group has influence beyond its numbers (of people represented) Citizen control of the Agenda will be distorted Traditional Theory ~ 5 Criteria AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

11. (5) Inclusion Government must include and extend rights to All. Citizenship must be open to all within a nation if it is to call itself Democratic. Traditional Theory ~ 5 Criteria AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

12. MAJORITY RULE When choosing among alternative policies The desires of the Majority should be respected Fundamental Principles AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

13. MINORITYRIGHTS The Majority should not be able to do ANYTHING it wants Especially if what it wants to do seriously infringes on the rights of the Minority Fundamental Principles AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

14. REPRESENTATION In a LARGE SOCIETY Direct political involvement by all is impossible. Solution? Use of people to represent others in governmental decision making. Fundamental Principles AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

15. An Important & Basic Question • WHO REALLY GOVERNS? • 3 Contemporary Theories . . . • * Pluralist • * Elite & Class • * Hyperpluralism Contemporary Theories AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

16. Groups with shared interests • influence public policy by pushing for decisions • that respond to their concerns. • Essentially optimistic that the “public interest” • will eventually prevail through a process • of bargaining and compromise. Pluralist Theory AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

17. “all active and legitimate groups in the • population can make themselves heard • at some crucial stage in the process” • We are a “nation of joiners” • Robert Dahl • Alexis de Tocqueville • 1830’s Pluralist Theory AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

18. Have Americans reduced this tendency • to be “joiners” & members of groups? • Robert Putnam (Harvard) • 2000 • Technology has isolated people. • We are more involved in • self-defined ways instead of in groups Pluralist Theory AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

19. Society is divided along class lines Upper class elite will hold significant power Wealth is the basis of this power The wealthy can afford to finance election campaigns & control key institutions such as corporations Elite & Class Theory AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

20. “The people who own the country ought to govern it” John Jay 1st Chief Justice Elite & Class Theory AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

21. “Many of our rich men have not been content • with equal protection and equal benefits, • but have besought us to make them richer • by act of Congress” • Andrew Jackson • 7th President Elite & Class Theory AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

22. “The 1980’s were the triumph of upper America – an ostentatious celebration of wealth, the political ascendancy of the richest third of the population, and a glorification of capitalism, free markets and finance”. • Kevin Phillips • Nixon strategist Elite & Class Theory AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

23. Groups are so strong that Government is weakened Resulting in an extreme form of Pluralism In a sense, groups treat government as their servant Hyperpluralism AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

24. Groups push for their own policies at whichever level and branch of government may result in policies they favor Create “battlegrounds” at National, State & Local levels in Executive, Legislative, & Judicial branches Hyperpluralism AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

25. Governments respond to all groups Creating policies that are confusing, contradictory & muddled . . . The “public interest” is rarely well served Hyperpluralism AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

26. Deliberation is an approach to decision-making in which citizens: • consider relevant facts from multiple points of view • converse with one another to think critically about options before them • enlarge their perspectives, opinions, • and understandings Deliberative Democracy AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy

27. Deliberative democracy strengthens citizen voices in governance by including people of all races, classes, ages and geographies in deliberations that directly affect public decisions. As a result, citizens influence, and can see the result of their influence on, the policy and resource decisions that impact their daily lives and their future. Deliberative Democracy AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Democracy