Types of Democracy Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering the different models of democracy and their implementation in the U.S. government as described in the lecture.

Democracy

A system of government that means rule by the people.

Direct Democracy

Also referred to as pure democracy, this is a system where people vote directly on policies; it exists at some state and local levels but not at the federal level.

Initiative

A process in some states where citizens can write a proposed bill or amendment and get it placed on the ballot to be voted on by residents.

Referenda

A process where a member of the state government writes a bill and places it on the ballot to be approved by the state's residents.

Representative Democracy

A system where citizens vote for representatives who make the policies.

Participatory Democracy

A model of democracy that emphasizes broad participation by citizens in politics and civil society, involving active influence in policymaking through actions like protests and marches.

Brutus No. 1

A required document that can be used to support the concept of participatory democracy.

Pluralist Democracy

A model of democracy that emphasizes the role of group-based policymaking, primarily through political parties and interest groups.

Federalist No. 10

An essay associated with pluralist democracy and the role of groups in the political process.

Elite Democracy

A model of democracy that emphasizes a limited or filtered role for the people, where a small group of elites have a disproportionate amount of political power.

Electoral College

An example of elite democracy within the Constitution where a specific group, rather than the people directly, chooses the president.

15th Amendment

An amendment to the Constitution that expanded the right to vote to people of all races.

19th Amendment

An amendment to the Constitution that expanded the right to vote to people of all sexes.

26th Amendment

An amendment to the Constitution that expanded the right to vote to people ages 18 and older.

First Amendment

Provides protections for freedom of speech, press, and assembly, which facilitate participatory and pluralist democracy.