AP Gov 1.2

Participatory Democracy

Emphasizes broad participation in politics & civil

Goal: Wants as many people as possible to come to democracy party

• Citizens vote on laws directly (not through a rep)

• not popular with farmers as most people were uneducated

• more population = more complex laws

• Example: local council meetings

Initiative

A process that allows citizens to propose legislation or constitutional amendments and vote on them directly, often used to bypass the legislature.

Referendum

Citizens can oppose a law that is passed

Elite Democracy

Emphasizes limited participation by a few, educated and informed states people

Goal: To help prevent unwise decisions

• Complex Gov = need for specialists

• Example: US Supreme Court Judge Appointments (entirely independent from voters)

• Example: Electoral College electors from various states

Pluralist Democracy

Group-based activism by non-governmental interest’s witch work to impact decision making

Goal: Group based work to challenge each other’s opinions, so no one dominates

• Interest groups: Form around a certain cause or demographic

• average citizens have a big influence in their reps

Examples of models of democracy in the constitution

1. Participatory: Separation of powers of state & federal gov.

2. Elite: Elects reps. on behalf of the people

3. Pluralist: compromise for law passing