POL110 Final

Electoral College

A body that elects the President and Vice President of the United States, shaped by existing power structures and aimed to placate powerful minorities.

Tyranny of the Majority

A situation where majority rule undermines the rights and freedoms of minority groups.

Tyranny of the Minority

A situation where minority groups can govern despite not having majority support, making democracy vulnerable to backsliding.

The Virginia Plan

A proposal for a bicameral legislative structure that favored representation based on population.

The New Jersey Plan

A proposal for a unicameral legislature where each state would have the same number of representatives, regardless of population.

Filibuster

A Senate tactic that was originally required a 2/3 vote to end debate, later changed to a 3/5 vote, and now lacks the talking filibuster.

Hamilton and Madison's view on counter-majoritarian institutions

Both opposed many counter-majoritarian institutions as they believed they undermined the principle of democratic governance.

Historically, concerns about anti-majoritarian institutions

Critics argue that abolishing such institutions would lead to chaos, but historical examples show this did not occur.

Key argument of Levitsky and Ziblatt

They argue that the greatest threat to U.S. democracy comes not from the tyranny of the majority but from the tyranny of the minority.

Counter-majoritarian institutions

Institutions like the Electoral College or U.S. Senate that protect minority interests but may undermine democratic rule.