Foundations of Democracy

U.S. Constitution

Drafted at the Philadelphia Convention by leaders like Washington, Madison, Hamilton, and the “Grand Committee.” Blueprint for a representative democracy.

Also replaced the Articles of Confederation, which then created a stronger central government, federal system (shared power with states)

Popular Sovereignty

Power comes from the people (“We the People”).

Natural Rights

Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness (Declaration of Independence); property rights also protected in the 5th Amendment.

Limited Government

Government power is limited to protect freedoms.

Rule of Law

Laws apply equally to all; leaders can be held accountable.

Social Contract Theory

• People give up some freedoms for government protection/order.

• Government’s legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed.

• If government violates rights, people have the right to alter or abolish it.

Magna Carta (1215)

Limited king’s power, rule of law origins.

Hobbes (Leviathan, 1651)

Humans need order; social contract needed.

Locke (Second Treatise, 1690)

Natural rights, equality, consent of governed.

Montesquieu (Spirit of the Laws, 1748)

Separation of powers; checks and balances.

Mayflower Compact (1620)

Self-government, equal laws for common good.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Natural rights, equality, popular sovereignty, social contract.

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments protecting individual liberties.

Federalism

• Power shared between national, state, and local governments.

• Prevents tyranny and allows policy diversity.

Constitutionalism

Written limits on government; majority rule with minority rights.

Republicanism

People elect representatives to make policy.

Grand Committee / Great Compromise

Bicameral Congress: House (population), Senate (2 per state); 3/5 Compromise for enslaved persons.

Direct Democracy

People vote directly on policies (not chosen for U.S. system).

Representative Democracy (Republic)

People elect officials to make laws.

Framers feared “passions of the masses,” so they created systems like the Electoral College and state-controlled election rules.

Voting Rights

Not in original Constitution; expanded through amendments (14th, 15th, etc.).

Articles of Confederation

First government; strong states, weak central government.

Great Compromise

Bicameral Congress: House — proportional representation. Senate — 2 senators per state.

3/5 compromise: enslaved persons counted as 3/5 for representation.

Participatory

Broad Citizen, involvement; examples: referenda, initiatives, voting rights expansions.

Pluralist

Competing interest groups influence policy; lobbying, advocacy, issue networks.

Elite

Small group of leaders make decisions; Electoral college, appointed judges, iron triangles.

Federalists

Strong central government; Federalist Papers (#10 supports pluralist large republic).

Examples: Hamilton, Madison, Jay

Anti-Federalists

More state power; smaller localized units; feared elite domination; wanted Bill of Rights.

Examples: Brutus

14th Amendment (1868)

Equal protection; citizenship rights.

15th Amendment (1870)

No race based voting restrictions.

17th Amendment (1913)

Direct election of Senators.

Themes & Tensions in American Democracy

Balancing power of government vs. individual rights.

Direct vs. representative democracy.

National vs. state authority.

Ongoing debate over participatory, pluralist, and elite influence.

Participatory Democracy

Broad citizen involvement; policy influence directly by voters.

Pluralist Democracy

Policy shaped by competition among organize interest groups.

Elite Democracy

Policy decisions made mainly by a small influential group (political, business, or intellectual elites)

Brutus 1

An anonymous essay that argues Constitution gives central government too much power → will overpower states & threaten liberty.

Key Points are that

Large republic = ineffective & distant from people.

Necessary & Proper Clause + Supremacy Clause → unlimited federal power.

Standing army = potential tyranny.

True representation works only in small, local republics.

Goal was to keep power mainly with states (loose confederation).

Factions

Group of citizens united by a common interest against the rights of others or the common good.

Importance:

• Inevitable because of human nature.

• Anti-Feds feared elite factions controlling central government.

• Federalists believed structure of government could limit their power.

Federalist 10

Large republic protects against faction tyranny.

Key Points:

• Can’t remove factions without destroying liberty.

• Solution = control their effects through a large republic.

• Many factions → no single one can dominate.

• Representation “refines & enlarges” public views → less mob rule.

• Supports: Strong central government under Constitution.